Russian news media say a Russian diplomat has been killed and four embassy workers kidnapped in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Russian news agencies quote an embassy official in Baghdad as confirming the attack.

Iraq's interior ministry says gunmen attacked the Russians Saturday in Baghdad's Mansour neighborhood, not far from the Russian embassy.

Separately, Iraqi authorities say at least seven policemen were killed and four others wounded in an attack at a police checkpoint in the city of Baquba.

Elsewhere, police say at least four bodies were found across Baghdad with signs of torture and bullet wounds.

The latest violence comes as Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki prepares to announce the names of candidates for the defense and interior ministers to parliament on Sunday.

Mr. Maliki told reporters Friday he decided to present his nominations directly to lawmakers, after failing to reach a consensus among the main political parties.

Iraq's new national unity government was sworn in on May 20, without the interior and defense ministers. The two positions are key to improving the country's security situation amid rising sectarian, factional and insurgent violence.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.