(20 Apr 2004) In Time: 10:40:53
1. Wide shot Farnesina Palace, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini
3. Wide shot of Frattini at news conference
4. More of Frattini
5. Close up press journalist with headphones
6. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Franco Frattini Minister of Foreign Affairs:
"It is even unthinkable we can open a negotiation with Bin Laden".
7. Frattini walking through a corridor after the presser
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Franco Frattini Minister of Foreign Affairs:
"Our aim is to maintain these contacts but without negotiations with terrorist groups that kidnaped the Italian people. And we will continue to fight against terrorists and we will continue to keep contacts with all communities in Iraq. Our aim is to stay in Iraq in order to help Iraqi people. We want a new UN resolution , we want a transfer of power by the end of month of June."
9. Cutaway
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Franco Frattini Minister of Foreign Affairs:
"Mr Quattroci told terrorsits - "Look how is ready to die an Italian people (person)"
11. Wide shot exterior of Farnesina Palace, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
STORYLINE:
An Italian hostage was executed by his Iraqi abductors, Foreign Minister Franco Frattini confirmed early Thursday, saying an Italian official saw a videotape of the killing - the first known slaying of any captive held in Iraq.
Earlier, the Arabic TV network Al-Jazeera reported that it had received a video of militants killing an Italian. The Italian ambassador to Qatar, where the network is based, watched the footage and confirmed that the man killed was Fabrizio Quattrocchi, a kidnapped Italian, Frattini said. "He saw the film," Frattini said, during a live TV talk show Wednesday night.
Italy was in shock Thursday. "Horror in Iraq, an Italian hostage killed," said Corriere della Sera on its front-page. "A barbaric gesture that leaves us in dismay," wrote a front-page editorial in the Rome-based Il
Messaggero.
Quattrocchi and three other Italians working as private security guards in Iraq were abducted Monday.
The militants' videotape was accompanied by a statement from a previously unknown group calling itself the Green Battalion, which threatened to "kill the three remaining Italian hostages one after the other, if their demands are not met," Al-Jazeera said. The group demanded the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, an apology from Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, and the release of religious clerics held in Iraq.
"They have cut short a life. They have not damaged our values and our commitment to peace," Berlusconi said. The premier was sending his diplomatic aide, Gianni Castellaneta, to Iraq as an envoy to try to save the remaining hostages.
Quattrocchi worked for a U.S.-based security company, like two other Italian hostages. The fourth captive was employed by a Seychelles-based firm, Frattini said.
Dozens of foreigners have been taken hostage in recent days in Iraq, amid the most violent uprising since the end of major combat operations was announced in May.
On Wednesday, Frattini told a parliamentary commission that the government would not negotiate directly with the kidnappers and would not pay any ransom. He also said an Iranian delegation was headed to Baghdad to help in efforts to secure the release of the Italians.
Berlusconi has ruled out any withdrawal of troops.
Frattini described a pullout as "unimaginable," saying it would mean "the victory of terrorism, civil war and defeat for the Iraqi people."
Britain and Italy quickly spurned the overture.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
