Four Italians kidnapped in Libya

Milan

Four Italians working for a construction company have been kidnapped in conflict-torn Libya, the foreign ministry said in a statement today.

They were around the premises of Italian oil giant ENI in the region of Mellitah, to the west of Tripoli, when they were snatched, the ministry said.

The ministry said a crisis unit is "in constant contact with the families and the company Bonatti" which employs the four.

Plunged into chaos since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi, Libya has two parliaments and governments vying for power, as a slew of armed groups battle for control of its oil wealth.

Italy closed its embassy in Libya in February and had urged its citizens to leave the country over the escalating violence.