[Peace-discuss] Bridge to Baghdad workers freed

[C. G. Estabrook]

[We discussed this peculiar case briefly Sunday night.  --CGE]

Two Italian Hostages Freed in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- 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. ___________________________________