Four Italian journalists kidnapped in Libya freed

[News_Editor]

Four Italian journalists kidnapped in Libya freed

2011-08-26 04:58:41 GMT+7 (ICT)

ROMA (BNO NEWS) -- The four Italian journalists who were reportedly kidnapped by forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi were released unharmed on Thursday, Italian media reported.

Domenico Quirico from Turin-based newspaper La Stampa, Elisabetta Rosaspina and Giuseppe Sarcina from Milan daily Corriere della Sera, and Claudio Monici from Avvenire, the daily of the Italian Episcopal Conference, were kidnapped on Wednesday morning in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

The journalists were ambushed while they were travelling by car from Zawiyah to Tripoli, trying to reach the international hotel. Their driver was killed in the attack.

"Our driver tried to close the door of the pick-up truck but it was impossible. They took the driver out and beat him and killed him before our eyes," Claudio Monici told SKY TG24 news channel.

According to the daily Corriere della Sera, the journalists were first taken to a garage where the kidnappers took away their passports, satellite phones, computers and money. On Thursday, the journalists were freed by two young men from a private house in Tripoli in which they were being held.

The President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, has expressed great satisfaction over the release of the journalists and thanked the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its work.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-08-26