Italian hostage in Iraq to be freed 'within days': website

[bemildred]

DUBAI (AFP) - An Islamist group which had threatened to kill an Italian journalist held hostage in Iraq (news - web sites) unless Rome announced a pullout of its troops by late Monday said she would be released "within the next few days", according to a website statement.

"After the religious committee in the Organization for Jihad investigated Giuliana Sgrena, it was established unquestionably that the Italian captive is not spying for the infidels in the Land of Two Rivers," the statement, posted late Monday, said in a reference to US-led coalition troops in Iraq.

"And in response to the appeal of the (Iraqi) Committee of Muslim Scholars, we in the Organization for Jihad will release the Italian captive in the next few days," added the statement, whose authenticity could not be verified.

It came hours after another statement posted on the Internet and attributed to the same group said that Sgrena's fate would be decided imminently.

Yahoo

[CottonBear]

1. The Italian Gov't and/or family pay

the ransom. They've already sprung at least two others. I believe that both were women aid workers.

[bemildred]

2. Eh, I don't believe nothing.

But it will be nice if she walks.

[cubschicago]

3. it would be nice, but not if the gov't is paying them

That would giving the terrorists the money they need to conduct to buy their weapons. And to train future terrorists. Especially, in a time when they are desperate because a lot of their bank accounts are being frozen.

[bemildred]

4. So, you feel the money is more important than her life?

(Assuming there is money being paid, which is not clear from the story.)

[bemildred]

5. Kidnapped Italian Journalist Killed - Web

The female Italian journalist, who was kidnapped in Iraq on Friday, has been killed, according to in an Internet statement, posted by a militant group.

"Your brothers in the Mujahedeen (holy fighters) Brigade have executed the Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena after making sure that she has spied on the mujahedeen for the American Crusade troops," said the statement. It said the killing was a message to the American government "that this would be the destiny of agents and spies."

The authenticity of the statement could not be verified, but experts say it is very dubious. The group that signed the statement - Mujahedeen Brigade in Iraq-
is not the Jihad Organisation that had claimed responsibility for Friday's kidnapping of Sgrena, 56.

Sofia News Agency