BASRA, Jan 6: Two Iraqi interpreters kidnapped along with an American citizen a day ago have been found murdered in central Basra, a spokesman for the British military said on Saturday.

The two were found murdered near a stadium with bullets in the back of their heads, Major Charlie Burbridge said.

Earlier, US embassy spokesman Louis Fintor confirmed that US officials were investigating the reported abduction from near Iraq's second largest city.

“Officials are investigating reports that an American citizen was kidnapped from near Basra on Jan 5,” he said.

The three were kidnapped from an area called Al-Haritha, north of Basra, local police chief Mohammed al-Mussawi said.

They were travelling in a black Opel car when three other vehicles full of gunmen ambushed them and kidnapped them, police said.

The abduction brought to six the number of Americans held hostage in Iraq.—AFP