New hostage video a warning for Berlusconi’s alliance with Bush

ROME – The release by Iraqi insurgents of the latest video of their Italian hostages sent a grim reminder yesterday to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of the consequences of his support for the US-led coalition hours before President George W. Bush was due to arrive in Rome.

The video, first shown on Qatar’s Al Jazeera and rebroadcast on Italian networks late Wednesday, was clearly timed to coincide with Bush’s visit and to heap maximum embarrassment on the two leaders. According to Al Jazeera, the tape was accompanied by a message from the kidnappers, the “Green Falange”, calling on Italians to protest against Bush’s policies on Iraq and the Italian government which supports them.Bush’s presence is expected to draw large anti-war demonstrations and the US State Department has warned Americans in Italy of the “potential for violence”.”The US embassy advises Americans to avoid areas in which crowds are expected to gather,” it said in a notice to US citizens.”Not all demonstrations are expected to be peaceful.There is potential for violence.”Tens of thousands of people are expected to demonstrate in the centre of Rome while Bush attends a wreath laying ceremony at a memorial to Nazi massacre victims several miles away at the Ardeatine Caves, or Fosse Ardeatine, on the outskirts of the capital.Around 10 000 extra police have been mobilised to ensure law and order for the visit, which coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Liberation of Rome by American troops in 1944.Meanwhile, the main left-wing opposition parties will boycott Bush’s official functions.Four Italians, working as security guards in Iraq, were kidnapped on April 12.One of them, Fabrizio Quattrocchi, was executed within a few days.The three remaining hostages are Maurizio Agliana, 37, Umberto Cupertino 35 and Salvatore Stefio 34.The video released to Al-Jazeera showed the three hostages apparently in good health.One of them said in Italian that they had been well treated and that the film was made on May 31.- Nampa-AFPAccording to Al Jazeera, the tape was accompanied by a message from the kidnappers, the “Green Falange”, calling on Italians to protest against Bush’s policies on Iraq and the Italian government which supports them.Bush’s presence is expected to draw large anti-war demonstrations and the US State Department has warned Americans in Italy of the “potential for violence”.”The US embassy advises Americans to avoid areas in which crowds are expected to gather,” it said in a notice to US citizens.”Not all demonstrations are expected to be peaceful.There is potential for violence.”Tens of thousands of people are expected to demonstrate in the centre of Rome while Bush attends a wreath laying ceremony at a memorial to Nazi massacre victims several miles away at the Ardeatine Caves, or Fosse Ardeatine, on the outskirts of the capital.Around 10 000 extra police have been mobilised to ensure law and order for the visit, which coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Liberation of Rome by American troops in 1944.Meanwhile, the main left-wing opposition parties will boycott Bush’s official functions.Four Italians, working as security guards in Iraq, were kidnapped on April 12.One of them, Fabrizio Quattrocchi, was executed within a few days.The three remaining hostages are Maurizio Agliana, 37, Umberto Cupertino 35 and Salvatore Stefio 34.The video released to Al-Jazeera showed the three hostages apparently in good health.One of them said in Italian that they had been well treated and that the film was made on May 31.- Nampa-AFP