Italian hostage tape aired

Arabic satellite channel Al Jazeera aired a tape yesterday of three Italian hostages being held in Iraq which it said was dated May 31.

One of the three men, shown eating at a table and then seated next to each other, said they were being treated well, Al Jazeera said. The man was speaking in Italian.

Four Italians working for a US security firm were abducted on April 12 near Baghdad.

One was shot dead after Italy refused to bow to demands to withdraw its troops form Iraq.


Herald Feature: Iraq