LONDON - Five Britons were abducted in an incident near the Iraqi finance ministry in Baghdad Tuesday, the Foreign Office said, adding that it was in "urgent" contact with Iraqi authorities.

"We can confirm that a group of five British nationals were abducted in an incident at the finance ministry in central Baghdad," said the spokesman, adding that it occurred at 11:40 am local time.

"Officials from our embassy are in urgent contact with the Iraqi authorities to try to establish the facts and to secure a swift resolution," she told AFP.

05/29/2007 16:14 GMT