Posted on 09/28/2004 8:48:10 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Two Italian Aid Workers who have been held captive in Iraq freed. No story yet.
Supposedly its on CNN now. I hope and pray its true.
OK. BBC headlines says 'officials' says they are released. More soon.
That's much more promising. Also the CNN producer has been released in Gaza.
CNN says the news is coming from the sister of one of the hostages!
Im guessing that the thugs were paid off..
Italian hostages released in Iraq
Two Italian female aid workers held hostage in Iraq for the last three weeks have been released and are in good health, officials say.The two women were handed over to officials in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, reports said.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi confirmed the release soon after it was reported on Arabic TV.
Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, both aged 29, were seized from their Baghdad office on 7 September.
Two words. Praise God!
It reminds me of those two US missionary women who were kidnapped in Afghanistan by the Taliban and were miraculously rescued. I have their book.
I don't like the fact a ransom was paid, but at leats they are alive...
And maybe we can slip a GPS tracker with the ransom. :)
Oh, that's good news!
I knew this didn't seem like the norm when they first reported this; they never said "beheaded", and there was no video. Wasn't this some fringe terrorist group that was holding these two? Does anyone know?
Naw. They pull up the last bundle of cash, and there's a note.
"If you're reading this, you've been handling the ransom money. You've also activated an eight-second fuse. BANG, you're dead!"
Yes, Rutles4Ever. Thank God.
If they were paid a ransom I am afraid your conclusion is mistaken. This will simply create further kidnappings.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two Italian and two Iraqi aid workers kidnapped this month in Iraq were freed Tuesday after three weeks in captivity, Italy's prime minister said.
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told Parliament that the four were handed over to the Red Cross in Iraq. He said the Italians were expected to return in Italy soon, possibly Tuesday evening.
"Finally a moment of joy," Berlusconi said. "The two girls are well and will be able to return to their loved ones tonight."
Berlusconi went before Parliament to give details of the release, thanking the intelligence agencies of neighboring countries, including Jordan, whose king was in Rome Tuesday.
Berlusconi's comments were reported just after the Arab television network Al-Jazeera announced that the Italians, Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, had been freed. A Muslim leader from Italy met with a local Muslim association earlier Tuesday in Baghdad to press for their release, though it was not immediately known if there was a connection.
The two women — both 29-year-olds working on school and water projects for the aid agency "Un Ponte Per ..." ("A Bridge To...") — were kidnapped in Baghdad on Sept. 7. Two different groups claimed responsibilty for the abductions, demanding the withdrawal of Italian troops from the country or the release of Iraqi female prisoners.
The same two groups later put out Web statements saying the two Italians had been killed, but the Italian government cast doubt on the claims' authenticity.
The portraits of the two Italian aid workers Simona Torretta (R) and Simona Pari are displayed on the Capitol building in the historic centre of Rome.(AFP/Andreas Solaro)
If they paid the ransom money that was requested, the kidnappers know that this will work next time.
Nice way to conduct a terrorist fundraiser.
King Abdullah II of Jordan (R) smiles as he shakes hands with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in the courtyard of Chigi Palace in Rome. Berlusconi confirmed that two Italian female hostages in Iraq had been released and turned over to the Italian Red Cross.(AFP/Andreas Solaro)
Italy's Berlusconi confirms release of Italian hostages in Iraq
ROME (AFP) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi confirmed that two Italian female hostages in Iraq had been released and turned over to the Italian Red Cross.
Berlusconi described the release of aid workers Simona Toretta and Simona Pari as a "moment of joy".
Earlier the Arabic-language news channel Al-Jazeera TV said: "The two Italian hostages have been released and handed over to the Italian charge d'affaires in Baghdad."
ransom paid = BIG mistake
I'm really happy!!!!
VIVA L'ITALIA!!!!!
So glad it turned out this way. Viva Italy and thanks for your support.
I wonder if The Duke was involved...oh, nevermind he works in the kithcen of South Park Elementary now!
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