A french engineer, kidnapped in December in Baghdad has been released while a US journalist has been taken hostage by an unknown group.

52 year old Bernard Planche worked as a water treatment plant engineer in Iraq prior to his kidnapping. He was released near a US military checkpoint.

The name of the US journalist has not been released. Reports are she was seized as she was on her way to interview prominent Sunni Arab politician Adnan Al-Dulaimi. Her translator was killed during the abduction.  

There has been no word on the fate of four other westerners held since the end of November. The four members of Christian Peacemaker Teams were taken  by a group calling themselves Swords of Truth Brigades on November 26, 2005. There has also been no word on the fate of a negoitiator in Iraq to secure their release. He disappeared in December.