Two French journalists are missing in Iraq and have not been heard from since Thursday, the Foreign Ministry in Paris said Saturday.

George Malbrunot of Le Figaro and Christian Chesnot of Radio France International, who often worked together and published a book on Iraq last year, have not reported on their location for more than two days, the ministry said.

"The French embassy is completely mobilized but their search has not produced any results for the moment," a ministry spokesman said.

It is not clear if the two journalists were reporting from Najaf where the American forces have battled radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al Sadr's militia.

Italy's Foreign Ministry said Saturday a freelance Italian journalist who had been working in Najaf was missing and his driver had reportedly been killed.

Source: CD/Agencies