Ransom payments seen fuelling Iraq's hostage crisis

[kskiska]

BAGHDAD, Sept 29 (Reuters) - The release of two Italian aid workers in Iraq has raised hopes other hostages may soon be freed, but reports that a large ransom was paid may only feed the burgeoning hostage crisis.

The two Italians, Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, both 29, were freed on Tuesday after three weeks in captivity.

They had been seized along with two Iraqi colleagues from a central Baghdad office in a brazen attack witnesses described as very organised and probably carried out by a criminal gang.

Italy rejoiced in the women's freedom on Wednesday, but there were reports a substantial ransom had been paid.

Gustavo Selva, an Italian lawmaker, told French radio a ransom of around $1 million -- a sum already mentioned in Arabic media reports in recent days -- had been handed over.


more…
http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0002/20040929/0716587654.htm&photoid=20040928PPC101&floc=NW_1-T

[Rose Siding]

1. Italy is supporting terrorists so we must invade....

Finland!

This was one of the big stories on BBC's PBS broadcast last night. Bush's pal, the PM said something about a difficult decision, and the money was reported as a rumor, but the pieces fit.

[Malva Zebrina]

2. Italy is supporting and funding terrorists

bomb them.

We do not support or fund terrorists (like Saudi or even Israel) so we let our citizens be beheaded without a comment or an ounce of compassion to the families. Beheaded? Just comes with the territory, you know.

What good did it do? The abductors got enough money from Italy and possibly from others. It doesn nothing, except to establish that Bush is a tough guy who does not back down . He is willing to have those deaths as his political ambition to establish his "leadership"

[madrchsod]

3. it`s not just the furn`rs

it`s the iraqi also. there is wide spread kidnapping of any one who may have money-doctors,nurses,business owners,teachers,etc and their family members..this is something you`ll never hear about in america