Militants holding journalist

2004-08-24 17:07

Baghdad - Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni, who has been missing in Iraq since last week, has been kidnapped by militants, according to a video broadcast on Tuesday on the pan-Arab Al-Jazeera television station.

The militant group, calling itself "The Islamic Army in Iraq," did not threaten Baldoni directly.

But it said it could not guarantee his safety unless Italy announces within the next 48 hours that it will withdraw its 3 000 troops from Iraq, the newsreader said.

The video showed a passport that identified the man as Baldoni and included a clip of a man purported to be the journalist.

The Italian foreign ministry reported Baldoni missing on Friday and said he was believed to be in Najaf.

The city has been the site of heavy fighting between militants and US forces for nearly three weeks.

Baldoni is a freelance journalist who went to Iraq for the news magazine Diario.

The Italian government has rejected the ultimatum.

- AP