Journalists told to quit Iraq

2005-02-21 20:47

Rome - Italy has advised Italian journalists in Iraq to leave because of the worsening security situation in the violence-wracked country, the foreign ministry said on Monday.

The ministry said correspondents for Italian media had been advised to leave by Rome's embassy in Baghdad, in a repeat of an advisory first transmitted on January 10.

"Because of the deteriorating working and security conditions, the embassy has once again suggested that journalists leave the country," a ministerial spokesperson told AFP in Rome.

The embassy warning follows the kidnapping of journalist Giuliana Sgrena, a correspondent for the daily Il Manifesto, on February 4.

Italy's ANSA news agency had earlier reported that the journalists had been told to leave within 48 hours following a tip-off from intelligence services.

- SAPA