Police sources told Kuwait’s KUNA news service the soldier was hustled away in an unmarked vehicle after a short gunbattle that killed a passerby. The missing man’s fate was not known.

The incident came as Shiites prepared to mark the annual festival of an ancient imam whom Shiite doctrine says will someday return to rule the world.

Meantime, KUNA said, U.S. and Iraqi forces were on the move in Tuz Friday night. They killed two insurgents and captured 10 others. They also seized a number of weapons.