Egypt's ambassador to Iraq has been kidnapped in Baghdad.
Egyptian diplomats confirmed that the ambassador, Ihab el-Sherif, was abducted by several gunmen as he was buying a newspaper in the city last night.
Iraqi police have found the ambassador's abandoned car in the capital and said there were no bullet holes or other signs of damage to the vehicle.
An Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman called on his kidnappers to treat him well and to see him as an Arab patriot.
Mr Sherif arrived in Baghdad on 1 June as Egypt's top diplomat, and was subsequently upgraded to ambassador.
