Italy denies ransom paid for hostages

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040423/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_hostages_italy&cid=1514&ncid=1480

ROME (AFP) - Italy denied that a multi-million euro ransom had been paid to Iraqi kidnappers to obtain the release of the three surviving Italian hostages being held in the country.


"It's an absolutely baseless story," Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said, following Italian newspaper reports that a nine-million-euro (10.7-million-dollar) ransom had been paid to the kidnappers.


The daily Corriere della Sera said the ransom had already been paid, citing Italian intelligence souces in Iraq (news - web sites).


The newspaper said intelligence agents were convinced the Italians were still alive, and had received assurances from their captors.

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[theboss]

1. In other words, yes, we paid

Oh, God bless Italy.