Rome paid millions for reporter's release in Iraq March 7, 2005 Sydney Morning Herald The Italian government paid up to $US6 million ($A7.67 million) for the release of kidnapped journalist Giuliana Sgrena in Iraq, the Milan-based Corriere della Sera reported, citing a senior Iraqi politician. Italian media also reported Italian state prosecutors had launched a manslaughter investigation into the fatal shooting by US troops of Italian agent Nicola Calipari which occurred as Sgrena was taken to Baghdad airport following her release. The kidnappers had been loyalists of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who had increased their ransom demands from an initial $US1 million ($A1.28 million), Younademn Kana, Iraqi MP and ex-member of the former provisional governing council was quoted as saying. The ransom was handed over by Italian agents to mediators in Abu Dhabi, the newspaper La Repubblica wrote. The ransom payment could also have led to "misunderstandings" between US troops and the Italian secret service as the US military was strictly against ransom payments, the Turin-based La Stampa said, alluding to the fatal shooting of Calipari. The 52-year-old agent was killed as he tried to shield the 56-year-old journalist from gunfire by US troops attempting to stop their car en route to Baghdad airport. Pope John Paul II, who remains in a clinic in Rome following throat surgery, sent a telegram to Calipari's family calling him a "generous hero". DPA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Give underprivileged students the materials they need to learn. Bring education to life by funding a specific classroom project. http://us.click.yahoo.com/FHLuJD/_WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
