Canberra: An Australian security official working at the embassy in Iraq's capital Baghdad was shot dead during a gunfire, authorities confirmed on Friday.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed the news, after an alleged exchange of gunfire killed the man while he was stationed at the embassy on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. "I confirm the death of a 34-year-old Australian security contractor working at the Australian Embassy in Baghdad," Bishop said in a statement released on Friday.