An Iraqi Interior Ministry source denied on Sunday that Iraqi security forces have rescued the kidnapped four Russian embassy employees on Saturday night, making the fate of the hostages conflicted.

"I can confirm that the information of their release was false, although some of our (ministry) officials said they rescued the Russians last night," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

An Interior Ministry source asserted to Xinhua late Saturday that the four were rescued in the al-Qadisiya district in west of Baghdad.

On Saturday afternoon, unidentified gunmen attacked a Russian embassy vehicle in Baghdad's Mansur neighborhood, killing one diplomat and kidnapping four others, according to a police source.

He said the gunmen traveling in several cars chased the Russian embassy car carrying five Russian diplomats and opened fire at the vehicle in the 14th Ramadan Street in Mansur neighborhood.

Four diplomats were kidnapped and a fifth, wounded by the gunfire, died of his wounds, he added.

No one has claimed responsibility for the abduction yet.

Violence continues to persist in Iraq despite the formation of a new national unity government on May 20.

Source: Xinhua