"We have not yet been able to confirm his whereabouts," a Foreign Ministry official was quoted as saying of Moriaki Endo, 55, a video producer covering the US-led war on Iraq, which started three weeks ago.

"What we can do is very limited in the war situation, and we are concerned about the safety of our nationals in Iraq considering that the civil order is expected to break down as the war comes to a close," the official said.

According to Kyodo, Endo's colleagues asked the ministry on Wednesday to search for him after fears arose he may have been detained by Iraqi police.

A group of freelance journalists headed by Endo said they last heard from him on April 2, and a Japanese national who recently returned from Baghdad said Iraqi police said on that day they had taken Endo into custody, Kyodo reported.

The ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said members of Endo's family also received contact from him on April 2and have not heard from him since then.

"It may possibly be that he has been detained, but it could also be that he is busily engaged in his work covering the war and may suddenly pop up. We cannot rule out any of the possibilities, "the official said.

The US-led coalition announced Wednesday that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime has lost control over Baghdad while sporadic fighting in some parts of the country continued.

The number of Japanese nationals in Iraq remained the same overnight at 42 -- 10 individuals or members of citizens groups, 26 journalists and six members of non-governmental organizations, Kyodo added.

(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2003)