Iraqi group threatens to kill hostages unless Italians hold protests

[Flagg]

Iraqi group threatens to kill hostages unless Italians hold protests





DUBAI (AFP) - An Iraqi group threatened to kill its three Italian hostages unless protests are held in Italy against Rome's policies in Iraq (news - web sites), Al-Arabiya television reported, airing footage of the trio.



A statement received by the Dubai-based station from a group calling itself the "Green Brigade", said the Italian people had five days to demonstrate or the three hostages would be killed.


The statement said the men were kidnapped because they were "spies".


Footage was shown of the three men as they sat eating.


One of four Italian security guards kidnapped by Iraqi insurgents on April 12 was executed two days later, and the others were threatened with death if Italy failed to withdraw its troops from Iraq.


Italy maintains a 3,000-strong battalion in Iraq as part of the US-led coalition.



http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040426/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_italy_hostages&cid=1514&ncid=1478

[sniffa]

1. that's a weird request

[Frances]

2. Actually, I have wondered why no Italians had protested

before this announcement. Anyone know anything about the families and friends of these 3 men? It would seem that there would have been some news accounts of them.

[Cocoa]

3. discrediting protests

I think this is fake, and I think Osama's reference to Halliburton was fake.

[Skip Intro]

7. Exactly my thought

The bs meter went off as I read the headline.

"If you protest this invasion/occupation, you're giving into the terrorists."

Yeah, oooookaaay then, better not protest this fraudulent war, or the terrorists win. Yes, sir.

From the same people that brought us the "Spain gave into the terrorists" by voting out a lying warmonger crowd.

The same ones who told us a couple of years ago that we should "watch what we say."

No doubt.

[hang a left]

4. You know I hate this war more than anything.

But I really hate it when hostages are executed. It is sad indeed that these people have to resort to these tactics to attract attention to their cause.

I guess it is the monster our Iraq policy has made.

[stopthegop]

5. the monster was there before...for years...n/t

[oblivious]

6. They didn't seem to mention size of the demonstration required.

Well, as long as they forgot to demand a minimum number, I guess the families could scare up 10 or 20 demonstrators to fulfill their demands.

[Moderator]

8. Duplicate, please update this story here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x510666