New Delhi, April 1 -- Search is underway for a female American journalist identified as Shelly Kittleson, after she was kidnapped in Baghdad on Tuesday, police officials said.

Officials said Kittleson was seized by four men in civilian clothes and taken away in a vehicle. The search is focused on the eastern part of the Iraqi capital where the kidnappers' vehicle was headed - Reuters reported - citing the officials.

Middle East news website Al-Monitor reported that Kittleson is a US freelance journalist based in Rome who has covered multiple conflicts in the region and contributed articles to the publication.

As per her social media bio, Kittleson is an award-winning journalist reporting from the Middle East and Afghanistan. Apart from...