Iraq kidnappers kill Italian hostage
15 April 2004

DUBAI: Iraqi kidnappers have killed an Italian hostage and are threatening to kill three others in response to Italy's refusal to withdraw its troops from Iraq, Arabic television Al Jazeera says.

An Al Jazeera official said the channel received footage of the killing of the Italian but would not broadcast it.

"We have the footage but we won't air it as it is too bloody. They slaughtered the hostage because of (Italian Prime Minister Silvio) Berlusconi's last remarks refusing to withdraw troops from Iraq," the official said.

There was no immediate comment from the Italian government.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said on Wednesday the country would not give in to "blackmail" to save the four Italians held by an Islamist group but was working with Iran and others for their release.

Al Jazeera television aired a tape on Tuesday of the four Italian security guards snatched by a hitherto unheard-of Iraqi group which demanded Italy withdraw its troops from Iraq.

Italy has confirmed that Italians working for a US private security firm had gone missing.

The kidnappings have added to pressure from some of Italy's opposition groups for the immediate withdrawal of Italy's almost 3,000 troops, but Berlusconi and his government have refused to back down.