Italian Hostage Reportedly Killed By Captors In Iraq

27 August 2004 -- An Italian journalist taken hostage in Iraq has reportedly been killed by his captors.
Al-Jazeera said it had footage of Enzo Baldoni being killed by members of a group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq.

On 24 August, the group gave Italy 48 hours to withdraw its 2,700 troops from Iraq or Baldoni would be killed. Italy refused to bow to the demands.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has condemned the reported killing as "barbaric," but vowed that Italy would stay the course in Iraq.

(Reuters/AP)

For the latest news on Iraq, see RFE/RL's webpage on "The New Iraq".