An American citizen who was taken captive in Iraq on Sunday has pleaded for his life in a video broadcast on Aljazeera.

The tape on Wednesday showed a man sitting behind a wooden desk as three men pointed their guns towards him.

He was holding what looked like a passport and a photo identification. 

The US embassy spokesman in Baghdad - Bob Callahan - confirmed the captive's name as Jeffrey Ake and that the pictures appeared to be consistent with his appearance, but declined to give further details.

Aljazeera did not air the tape's audio, but said Ake had asked the US government to start a dialogue with the Iraqi resistance.

The channel added the contractor had also asked Washington to begin withdrawing from Iraq and to save his life.

No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction.

PHOTO CAPTION

This TV image shows an American who had been kidnapped in Iraq two days before. (Al-Jazeera)