Rome hails release of hostages

2004-09-28 20:21

Rome - Hundreds of people cheered and applauded on Tuesday outside the home of one of the two Italian aid workers freed in Baghdad, celebrating the release of the women after an anguished three-week wait.

"We've spoken to the Baghdad ambassador. The information is 100% certain and we are already celebrating," Annamaria Torretta, the mother of Simona Torretta, said on Italian television.

Her daughter was freed earlier along with Simona Pari after being abducted by Islamic militants in Iraq on September 7 from the offices of the non-governmental organisation A Bridge to Baghdad.

Mrs Toretta and Simona's two sisters appeared on the balcony of their flat in Rome to wave at hundreds of applauding people gathered below.

"I'm so happy, overwhelmingly happy," said Simona Pari's father, Luciano, from his home in Rimini on the Adriatic coast.

"This was the news I had been hoping for. And I really believe it's true," he added.

The families had maintained an anxious vigil since the September 7 abduction and nearly lost all hope when an Islamic website posted claims that the two women had been killed.

The Italian government had remained cautious over claims, saying they were not credible.

'Moment of joy'

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi confirmed that two women had been released and turned over to the Italian Red Cross, describing it as a "moment of joy".

President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi also said the country shared the families' joy.

But he added: "In this moment of great joy, there is still pain for all those who were killed in a barbaric way.

"We remain anxious about the other hostages still in the hands of their kidnappers and we renew our appeal: free them."

Pope John Paul also expressed his delight at the release of the two women, a Vatican spokesperson said.

The plight of the two women had galvanised Italy, which was rocked by the murder death of Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni in Iraq in August.

Pictures of the two Simonas were hung on Rome's historic Capitol building, and tens of thousands of Italians had taken part in candle-lit vigils and sent messages of solidarity to their families.

Iraqi engineer Ali Raad Ali Abdul Aziz and an Iraqi woman, Manhaz Assam, abducted with the Italians were also freed on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Berlusconi said.

- AFP