Two Macedonian contractors have been kidnapped near the southern Iraqi city of Basra, the British military said on Saturday. British military spokesman Major Peter Cripps said they were abducted on Thursday while driving in a vehicle during routine work. "I can confirm that on the morning of Feb. 16 two Macedonians were abducted near Basra. The Iraqi police has been informed and is investigating," he said. Basra, Iraq's second city, has been relatively free of the violence plaguing the central part of the country but it has witnessed kidnappings.