Italian hostage to be released in the next few days

The Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena will be released in the next few days, said an internet statement in the name of the Iraqi militant group holding her on Monday.

The website frequently carries messages from &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/2002/11/22/39849.html' target=_blank>Islamic militants. "After the judicial committee of the &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/usa/2002/08/21/34887.html' target=_blank>Jihad Organization interrogated the Italian captive Guiliana Sgrena, it has been found that the Italian captive is not involved in spying for the infidels in Iraq.

"In response to the appeal made by the Muslim Scholars' Association, we, in the Jihad Organisation, will free the Italian captive in the next few days," the statement added, reports News24.

According to the News.Scotsman, the statement’s authenticity could not be verified.

Giuliana Sgrena, a 56-year-old reporter for the communist daily Il Manifesto, was kidnapped on Friday near Baghdad University.