Italian hostage executed, says Arab TV report

[gate of the sun]

~SNIP~

Thu 15 Apr 2004

FOREIGN STAFF


Key points

• Video tape of the execution of 1 of 4 Italian hostages sent to Italian official.
• Threats to kill the 3 others if Italy does not withdraw from US coalation.
• Italy’s opposition groups call for withdrawal of 3,000 troops but Berlusconi refuses to back down.
• 21-40 foreigners have been kidnapped since April - though some released.

Key quote: "It was Quattrocchi. He was recognised in the footage by Italy’s ambassador in Doha. The family has been told"- Franco Frattini Italy’s foreign minister confirmed.

Full story: AN ITALIAN hostage was executed by his Iraqi abductors, Franco Frattini, Italy’s foreign minister, confirmed last night, saying an Italian official had seen video footage of the killing.

The victim, Fabrizio Quattrocchi, was one of four Italian security guards kidnapped on Monday. The abductors were last night threatening to kill the remaining three hostages if Italy did not withdraw from the United States-led coalition in Iraq.

The gruesome tape was received by al-Jazeera, but was not broadcast by the Qatar-based TV network, because of its content.

Mr Frattini told state television that Italy’s ambassador to Qatar had seen al-Jazeera’s footage and confirmed the news to the Italian government.

"Unfortunately we have the confirmation," Mr Frattini said on a talk show on RAI television last night. "It was Quattrocchi. He was recognised in the footage by Italy’s ambassador in Doha. The family has been told."

>>> MORE >>>>

link: http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=424012004

[MrSlayer]

1. That's bad news.

We're going to see a whole lot more than this.

[gate of the sun]

4. under Kerry too.

n/t

[punpirate]

2. Executing hostages is brutal and wrong....

But, I expect it will go on as long as the US continues to try to control the country.

Bush couldn't admit any mistakes, most recently. One of his mistakes was not envisioning what is happening now. There's a long history of this sort of thing in the Middle East. Revenge is an unfortunate part of Arab history, as it is in other cultures.

[gate of the sun]

3. you mean like ours?

n/t

[punpirate]

5. Explain your comment further, please....

I don't make distinctions between Italians or Americans or Japanese in this regard. Hostages of all stripes should not be executed or threatened with execution under international law.