Gunmen ambushed the car of a high- ranking female official in an Iraqi ministry and kidnapped her in western Baghdad on Thursday, a police said.

"Unknown armed men in three cars intercepted the car of Mary Abbud Hamza, director general in the Industrial and Mineral Ministry, and kidnapped her in the Yarmouk district," said Captain Ahmed Abdullah from Baghdad police.

He said the attack took place at about 8:40 a.m. (0540 GMT) while Hamza was heading to work from her home.

Insurgents frequently attack Iraqi governmental employees in an attempt to cripple the U.S.-backed political process.

Source: Xinhua