Iraqi officials say insurgents ambushed an Egyptian-owned telephone company's convoy in Baghdad Wednesday, killing at least six security guards and possibly abducting two foreign engineers.

Officials say the engineers from Malawi and Madagascar are missing and feared kidnapped.

Meanwhile, kidnappers freed the sister of Iraq's interior minister, Shi'ite politician Bayan Jabr, two weeks after she was abducted in Baghdad.

Freelance writer Jill Carroll is shown in this file photo

On Tuesday, Iraqi insurgents released a videotape of kidnapped American journalist Jill Carroll, who works for the Christian Science Monitor, saying they would kill her unless female prisoners in Iraq are released within 72 hours.

And Iran said it is looking into Iraqi allegations of a clash between Iraqi and Iranian coastguard forces in the Persian Gulf.

Basra's governor said Tuesday that nine Iraqi coast guard sailors were kidnapped and one killed in a skirmish with Iranian forces.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.