G8 foreign ministers have denounced yesterday's abduction of five Britons from a government building in Baghdad.
In a joint statement, the ministers called for their immediate safe release.
The group were abducted from the Finance Ministry by up to 40 armed men, some of whom were 'dressed in police uniforms'.
British embassy staff in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, are continuing their efforts to secure the release of the UK citizens.
Police have been implicated in several high-profile mass abductions, and it has long been suspected that illegal militias have infiltrated Iraqi police units.
There is speculation that a Shia group may be involvednn this latest incident.
Meanwhile in the US, activist Cindy Sheehan, has said she is standing down as the public face of the campaign against the war in Iraq.
Ms Sheehan set up a grassroots peace movement in August 2005 when she camped outside the Texas ranch of the US President, George W Bush, for 26 days.
Her son Casey, a US soldier, was killed in Baghdad the previous year.
Confirming her decision, Ms Sheehan said she was exhausted and called on Americans who want change to campaign for it.
