An Italian journalist who had been kidnapped in Iraq has been killed by his abductors.
A group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq had said it would kill Enzo Baldoni unless Italy withdrew its troops by yesterday afternoon.
The 56-year-old freelance journalist disappeared a week ago between the capital, Baghdad, and Najaf.
The Italian government has confirmed that Mr Baldoni's killing was shown in a video given to the Arabic television network, Al Jazeera.
The Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, described the killing as an inhuman and barbaric act.
Kuwaiti firm meets kidnappers' demands
A Kuwaiti transport company that has seven employees being held hostage in Iraq has agreed to kidnappers' demands for their release and is ending its work in the country.
The seven lorry drivers, who are from India, Kenya and Egypt, have been held for more than a month.
