Spanish war journalist kidnapped in Syria

MADRID - The Associated Press

Spain's interior minister says a correspondent from the Spanish newspaper El Periodico has been kidnapped in Syria by an organization linked to al-Qaida.

Jorge Fernandez Diaz said Tuesday his ministry was working for the release of 46-year-old Marc Marginedas, who has not been seen since Sept. 4 when the car he and his driver were in was stopped by armed jihadists near the western town of Hama.

Barcelona-based El Periodico says it has not been able to contact Marginedas. The newspaper says no group had claimed responsibility. Diaz did not say how he knew who had kidnapped Marginedas.

El Periodico says Marginedas entered Syria from Turkey on Sept. 1 for what was his third trip since the conflict erupted in 2011.

Marginedas has reported from Afghanistan, Iraq, Chechnya, Lebanon, Darfur and Algeria.