Somalia's journalists' union belives a freelance reporter from central Alberta is being held at gunpoint after she was kidnapped with an Australian journalist in Somalia on Saturday.

"No formal claim of responsbility has been made and the motive for the kidnapping remains unknown. As well, there have been no demands," the National Union of Somali Journalists said in a statement Sunday.

Amanda Lindhout, 27, of Red Deer, Alta. was based in Baghdad working for Iranian broadcaster 'Press-TV.' She was planning to work on freelance stories about the instability and food shortage near the Somali capital of Mogadishu.

Lindhout and Australian journalist, Nigel Brennan, were on their way to Elasha, about 20 kilometres away from Mogadishu, to report on residents who had been displaced by violence and food shortages when they, their Somali driver and two bodyguards were abducted by unknown gunmen.

Somalia's government has confirmed the kidnapping of all five people. A government spokesperson said they are trying to find out where the group is being held.

"It is not clear whether they are being held for political purposes, (as) bargaining chips or for financial purposes, but journalists who spoke on conditiion of anonymity for their security said the abduction seemed to be a pre-planned attack," the journalists' union said.

CTV News spoke by telephone with Lindhout's mother in British Columbia. She says some people have made comments in the past about it being too dangerous for her daughter to be in war torn regions, but she says it is what her daughter felt compelled to do.

"I just want people to know she's there because first of all she wants to be the best journalist she can and she feels like to be the best journalist, she has to be on the front lines and she has to be with the people to tell their story."

"The humanitarian side of everything is huge for Amanda, to bring that to light so people can help," said Lindhout's mother Lorinda.

Calgarian Jeremy Kroeker met Lindhout while he was in Damascus, Syria. He says she was once robbed at gunpoint during her travels and knows how to handle herself in dangerous situations.

"It is really where her passion is, she is interested in conflict zones and she is drawn to the passion of the people," said Kroeker.

"I remember she told me that people that are in a conflict zones live each moment of their life as though it were a lifetime of experience and she was drawn to that."

It is not known where Lindhout and Brennan have been taken or what condition they are in.

Brennan's parents say their son arrived in Africa just over a week ago to work as a freelance photographer.

Lindhout grew up in Red Deer and had taken some photography courses and was offered a job to report for an Iranian news agency before she finished school.

After moving to the Middle East she began writing a weekly column for the Red Deer Advocate from Iraq and Africa.

The brother in law of, Abdifatah Elmi, one of the two guards said he learned about the abduction because he was talking on his cell phone with Elmi while it happened.

"I heard a voice ordering them to turn the car in a different direction," said Abdihakim Haji in a phone interview from Mogadishu.

"My brother, in a low tone, was trying not to answer my inquiries but made me (understand) that they were caught in a difficult situation. I realized that things had changed and then their voices disappeared."

The Canadian Government advises all travelers to stay away from Somalia and state on their website, "The security situation in Somalia is very unstable. Canadians in this country should leave." The warning goes on to say that all forms of violent crime are common in the area.

A government spokesperson tells CTV News the high commission of Canada in Kenya has been notified of the situation and is working with Somali authorities to find out where the kidnappers have taken the group.

With files from Bill Fortier, CTV Calgary and The Associated Press.