Iraqi authorities say an intensive search is underway for two journalists from a U.S. television network who have been kidnapped in southern Iraq.
Witnesses say gunmen seized two CBS journalists from a hotel in the city of Basra Monday. CBS has not released the names of the missing pair.
Basra is a predominantly Shi'ite city in which rival Shi'ite militias have competed for influence. A Basra militia loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr condemned the kidnappings Tuesday and called for the journalists to be freed.
In other developments, an Iraqi media organization says Iraqi journalist Hisham Michwit Hamdan was found shot to death in central Baghdad Tuesday, two days after being kidnapped.
Elsewhere, the U.S. military says coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained two suspects Monday and Tuesday in battles with al-Qaida in central Iraq.
