Al-Jazeera says Italian hostage killed on tape

CTV: The Arabic television network Al Jazeera reports the kidnappers of four Italians in Iraq have killed one hostage and are threatening to kill the rest.

The satellite station did not say how it obtained the tape, and did not broadcast it. But it said the tape showed the death of one of the hostages.

Italy's Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, confirmed the report and said an Italian official had viewed the video. Earlier in the day Frattini said Italian troops would remain in Iraq, despite the kidnappers' demands that they withdraw.

Aljazeera.net said this