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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Italian secret agents trying to save Bigley |
| 2004-10-03 |
| Italian intelligence officials who secured the release of two hostages in Iraq are working with their British counterparts to try to free Kenneth Bigley, the captive Briton. They believe that Sunni Muslim insurgents who kidnapped Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, the aid workers freed last week, have links with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of Tawhid wal Jihad, the group holding Mr Bigley. The engineer, 62, was captured 16 days ago with two American colleagues, who have been beheaded. An Italian diplomat said: "Italy's intelligence is working very closely with Britain's to lend every assistance to free the hostage. It has developed expertise in this area which may help." During negotiations over the Italians, a Lebanese businessman with close ties to the Italian government took a leading role. An Iraqi said: "We have already secured a statement from Zarqawi that Mr Bigley was well. Now we want to meet Mr Bigley to assure both sides that progress can be made, but it's a volatile situation." The Lebanese negotiator, who wishes to remain anonymous, is believed to have discussed with British intelligence officers how to resolve the crisis. A ransom of $1 million (£555,925) was paid for the two Simonas, but talks about Liverpool-born Mr Bigley centre on consideration for his apologies for being in Iraq, his mother's ill health and criticism by his brother, Paul, and other family members of Tony Blair. Paul Bigley has called for Mr Blair to stand down, saying that this would ensure his brother's "immediate release". "He should go because his policy in Iraq is absolutely shocking," Paul Bigley said. "He is helping to create a new Vietnam." Mr Bigley, who has had an offer of help from Saif Gaddafi, son of Colonel Gaddafi, the Libyan president, remained optimistic that the terrorists would release his brother if "we give them a way to do it without losing face". The Army of Ansar al-Sunna, which is linked to al-Qaeda, posted a video on its website yesterday of an Iraqi hostage being beheaded after "confessing" to being a contractor with US forces. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #4 A ransom of $1 million (£555,925) was paid for the two Simonas ... Which is the surest way of making certain that more people get kidnapped. Responsibility for the next hostage to be abducted and beheaded lies squarely with Italy. Idiotos! |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-10-03 5:36:36 PM |
| #3 ah...well then. It does make me wonder whether or not the women were aware of his presence but didn't know he was a "hostage". |
| Posted by: 2b 2004-10-03 10:03:22 AM |
| #2 #1 "Forgive me if I'm way off here, cause I didn't closely follow the Italian hostage thing as to who had them and where they were, etc." Even those who DID follow it closely didn't know who had them or where they were. |
| Posted by: Bryan 2004-10-03 8:20:43 AM |
| #1 Forgive me if I'm way off here, cause I didn't closely follow the Italian hostage thing as to who had them and where they were, etc. But considering the report about Bigley being free to roam about and only being in the cage for video footage - I'm wondering if he was at the same location as the girls. After all, the girls said that they were "unaware" of any other hostages. Now the Italians, who allowed the girls to be used as fund raisers for terrorists seem to think they can help in the Bigley case. Even if I'm way off about the location of the hostages, this is all becoming very strange. |
| Posted by: 2b 2004-10-03 8:06:28 AM |