An American female journalist was kidnapped and the body of her Iraqi interpreter found near a mosque in Baghdad on Saturday, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua.

The U.S. journalist, named Jil Kieily according to Arabic pronunciation, was kidnapped in Baghdad's western Adel district when unknown gunmen attacked her car and killed her interpreter, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The body of her Iraqi Christian interpreter Alin Ghazi Jack was found near the mosque of Malik Bin Anas in the district, said the source.

He added that the U.S. journalist was heading to make an interview with Adnan al-Dulaimi, head of the Iraqi Consensus Front, a Sunni Arab political body.

A number of Westerners are now held hostage by kidnappers in Iraq, including an American, a British and two Canadians, all members of a Christian peace group. A French engineer was also abducted on Dec. 5 in west of Baghdad and is being held.

Source: Xinhua