Romans demand Sgrena's release

2005-02-19 18:54

Rome - Tens of thousands of peace demonstrators gathered in central Rome on Saturday at the start of a march to demand the release of Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena, held hostage in Iraq since February 4.

Italian media said at least 200 000 people were expected to join the march, which got under way at Rome's Piazza della Repubblica shortly after 2:00pm (13:00 GMT) and began winding its way across the city to a rally at the ancient Circus Maximus.

Sgrena's elderly parents, her partner Pier Scolari and staff from her newspaper, the communist daily Il Manifesto, led the march, which comes a few days after a tearful Sgrena pleaded with Italy's government to save her life by withdrawing its troops from Iraq in a video-tape released by her kidnappers.

Il Manifesto devoted its front page to a life-sized portrait of its 56-year-old correspondent, over the headline "Together".

Italy's opposition has backed the demonstration, which is as much an anti-war rally as a demand for the release of Sgrena, and the safe return of her French colleague Florence Aubenas and her Iraqi driver Hussein Hanun al-Saadi, who went missing in Iraq a month before the Italian.

Marchers, including many families, waved rainbow-coloured peace flags and posters of the three. Some carried banners representing Italy's 20 regions.

However, the parties in Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's governing coalition - which has backed the US-led invasion of Iraq and deployed 3 000 troops there - were taking no official part in the march after lawmakers voted on Tuesday to maintain the troops in Iraq.

Reform Minister Roberto Calderoli dismissed Saturday's demonstration. "I believe it's useless, even risky, for the life of the kidnapped journalist," he said.

"Those who aren't going on the street don't understand the common feeling," said Fausto Bertinotti, leader of the Refoundation Communist party, in a shot across the government's bows.

Romano Prodi, who will challenge Berlusconi for Italy's leadership in a general election next year, said on Saturday it was "my duty" to march in Rome.

"It's all we can do, nothing more. All of us have seen how distressed and defenceless she was on TV, like a little bird".

At dusk, the city's Colosseum was to be lit up specially in symbolic backing for the demand for Sgrena's release.

The journalist's plight was also to be remembered on stage at Rome's Teatro Valle on Saturday evening. Actress Ottavia Piccolo said she would dedicate her performance in the play The Land of Milk and Honey to her abducted friend.

"It will be dedicated to my friend Giuliana, a courageous and passionate woman. The applause will all be for her."

Meanwhile, the Vatican said it had tried but failed to make contact with Sgrena's kidnappers in Baghdad, and implored them to free her immediately.

- AFP