German, Italian kidnapped in Pakistan

By msnbc.com staff and news services

At least two Westerners were reported kidnapped Thursday?in Multan, in the southern part of the Punjab region of Pakistan.

One?was an Italian and the other?was believed to be a German citizen, Police Chief Amir Zulfiqar told reporters outside the house where the abductions took place.

The Italian foreign ministry also said one of the men was Italian and that his family "is constantly being briefed on the situation."

Zulfiqar said three gunmen broke into the house.?

Police and intelligence officials said the men were seized from their office in a supposedly secure part of town before being driven off.

The pair worked for a non-government organization working in the flood-ravaged areas of South Punjab, local media reported.

Kidnappings for ransom are common in Pakistan. Islamist militants also abduct people and are currently holding at least three foreigners.

Last year, gunmen kidnapped an American from the Punjabi city of Lahore, and al-Qaida?claims to?hold him.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/19/10192176-german-italian-kidnapped-in-pakistan

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