Italian Officials Dispute Reports of Ransom
75160
Italy&#39;s government dismissed reports Wednesday that it paid $1 million to free two Italian aid workers who were kidnapped in Iraq and held for three weeks before being released Tuesday.
532030
The Italian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it is investigating a report that an Italian citizen was killed in Iraq after being taken captive by a militant group.
373402
Confusion surrounded the fate of two  French journalists held hostage in Iraq on Thursday after a new  purported statement from the kidnappers denied they had  demanded a $5 million ransom or set a 48-hour deadline.
126823
Italy is investigating whether an Italian journalist abducted in Iraq was seized by insurgents or by ordinary criminals hoping for a ransom, a top Foreign Ministry official said Sunday.
80510
Authorities worked to avoid another tragic conclusion to this latest kidnapping, weeks after an Italian freelance journalist was abducted and killed.
237147
Two Italian aid workers held hostage in Iraq for three weeks were released by their captors yesterday amid reports that a $1m (Â£552,000) ransom had been paid to buy their freedom.
101701
Italian police say they have broken up a gang suspected of kidnapping illegal immigrants and holding them for ransom.
252769
BAGHDADâThe brother of a British hostage held by terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi accused the United States yesterday of sabotaging efforts to save the captive&#39;s life, while the Italian government cast doubt on claims that two kidnapped Italian
452424
Italy said it had no information which could confirm the execution of two Italian hostages held in Iraq, sources close to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi cited by ANSA news agency said.
506003
Safely home in Italy, two women aid  workers spoke of returning to Iraq on Wednesday despite a  three-week hostage ordeal as their overjoyed nation shrugged  off reports that a ransom was paid to free them.
602449
ITALIAN police are investigating allegations that American intelligence agents kidnapped an Islamic militant in Milan and transported him to Egypt, where he was tortured.
67936
Captors of two Italian hostages in Iraq have agreed to free the women, as early as this week, for a &#36;1 million ransom, a Kuwaiti daily said on Tuesday in a report splashed over the front pages of Italian newspapers.
707634
Illegal immigrants are vulnerable and at risk from those offering help Italian police say they have broken up a gang suspected of kidnapping illegal immigrants and holding them for ransom.Comment
53890
The Italian government said Thursday that the claims that two Italian female aid workers held hostage in Iraq had been killed were unreliable.
467415
:Italy reacted with horror Friday at the killing of its hostage in Iraq, while the government insisted it would stay the course in the Middle Eastern country.
241821
THE government in Rome, which was criticised for not doing enough to save the life of an Italian journalist held hostage in Iraq last month, has been swift to react to the kidnapping there of two Italian women aid workers.
753690
One of the two freed Italian aid workers said Wednesday that their abductors in Iraq taught them about Islam and reassured them they wouldn't die. While the women rested with their families after a joyous reunion, questions were raised whether a &#36;1 million ransom had been paid to secure their freedom.