Rome prosecutors said on Monday they had opened an investigation into the abduction of four Italian construction workers in western Libya.
The probe is being spearheaded by investigating magistrate Sergio Colaiocco.
The four workers were were kidnapped near the Italian energy giant Eni's oil and gas complex in Mellitah, west of the Libyan capital Tripoli, the foreign ministry said Monday.
The four work for the Bonatti construction company that specialises in oilfield work, the Italian foreign ministry added.
The four workers were abducted late on Sunday, Italy's foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni confirmed.
The workers' names were not immediately released.
