Three Czech Journalists Missing in Iraq

By: (AP) Three prominent Czech journalists have disappeared in Iraq, and at least two of them are believed to have been kidnapped, their employers said.

Czech Television, a public station, lost all contact with Michal Kubal, a well-known reporter, and Petr Klima, a cameraman, on Monday morning, said spokesman Martin Krafl.

Krafl said there were unconfirmed reports that the two were kidnapped as they were traveling from Baghdad to Amman, Jordan.

A third reporter, Vit Pohanka, of Czech Radio, also a public station, has been unaccounted for since Sunday, according to the head of the radio station's foreign desk, Jiri Hosek.

Pohanka, a leading reporter on his third trip to the region, might have been traveling to Amman with the other two, Hosek said.

He said Pohanka reported from Baghdad for the last time on Saturday night and was expected to rent a car and go to Amman on Sunday.

"The last we know about him is that he checked out of his hotel in Baghdad on Sunday morning," Hosek said. "He was expected to arrive in Prague today, but so far we haven't heard from him."

Vit Kolar, a spokesman for the ministry, confirmed that the ministry was looking into the case of the television crew, but gave no details.