Italian Held Hostage

An American and an Italian who had been held hostage for several years by Al Qaeda in the border region of Pakistan and Afghanistan were inadvertently killed in a US counter-terrorism operation in January, US President Barack Obama today.

Italian politicians welcomed the liberation of two Italian aid volunteers held hostage in Syria but their release drew criticism over a possible ransom payment.

Four Italian journalists who were being held hostage in Syria have been freed, Prime Minister Mario Monti said in a statement on Saturday.

Silvio Berlusconi's accountant was taken hostage in his home by armed intruders who demanded a USD 44 million ransom from the former Italian premier, Italy's police said today.

An Italian hostage kidnapped by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in February last year in Southern Algeria was released on Tuesday and is in a hotel in Burkina Faso, officials said. "Maria Sandra Mariani is free. I have just informed her relatives. I join them in their great satisfaction and relief at this magnificent news," Foreign Minister Giulio...

Even as Maoists in Odisha freed Italian national Paolo Bosusco after keeping him captive for nearly a month yesterday, the hostage crisis is still far from over with abducted tribal MLA Jhina Hikaka continuing to be held captive by another faction of the Maoists.

After 29 days in hostage Paolo Bosusco, held hostage by the Odisha unit of the Maoist party has been released.

With the Maoists' 96-hour deadline drawing to a close, the Odisha government has finally given to the ultras' demand for the release of the abducted Italian national, Paolo Bosusco. With this, Mr Bosusco is expected to walk free soon after spending over three weeks in captivity.

Even as the 96 hour deadline for the release of the Italian tourist, given to the Odisha government by Sabyasachi Panda gets closer, the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik made another statement to the house clarifying that the Maoist chief was not correct in his accusations of the government efforts being a farce. "Yesterday Sabyasachi Panda...

Talks have begun at the State Guest House in Bhubaneshwar to end hostage crisis in Odisha, where an Italian national and an MLA are being held by two rival factions of Naxals. Three government officials and two Maoist representatives are in talks to strike a deal in exchange for the freedom of the captives.

In exchange for an Italian tour guide and an MLA, the Odisha government has agreed to release 27 prisoners, including eight Naxals. The hostages are being held by two rival factions of Naxals. No date has been fixed yet for the release of the prisoners. Here are 10 big facts on this story:

In exchange for an Italian tour guide and an MLA, the Odisha government has agreed to release 27 prisoners, including eight Naxals. The hostages are being held by two rival factions of Naxals. Here are 10 big facts on this story:

Even as one Italian national was released by the Maoists in Odisha, hectic negotiations are on to ensure safe release of the second Italian national and a ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA still held captive.

A day after the Italian tourist held hostage by Maoists in Odisha was released, a handwritten note in Odia, from the abducted MLA, Jhinn Hikaka addressed to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been received by the state government. In his letter Mr Hikaka says he is safe but has asked that for his release, all anti-Maoist combing and intelligence op...

After spending 11 days in Maoist captivity, one of the two Italian nationals, Claudio Colangelo, who was taken hostage, has been released in Odisha's Kandhmal district. The other Italian national, Bosusco Paolo, is still being held hostage by the Maoists.

An American and an Italian who had been held hostage for several years by Al Qaeda in the border region of Pakistan and Afghanistan were inadvertently killed in a US counter-terrorism operation in January, US President Barack Obama today.

Italian politicians welcomed the liberation of two Italian aid volunteers held hostage in Syria but their release drew criticism over a possible ransom payment.

Four Italian journalists who were being held hostage in Syria have been freed, Prime Minister Mario Monti said in a statement on Saturday.

Silvio Berlusconi's accountant was taken hostage in his home by armed intruders who demanded a USD 44 million ransom from the former Italian premier, Italy's police said today.

An Italian hostage kidnapped by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in February last year in Southern Algeria was released on Tuesday and is in a hotel in Burkina Faso, officials said. "Maria Sandra Mariani is free. I have just informed her relatives. I join them in their great satisfaction and relief at this magnificent news," Foreign Minister Giulio...

Even as Maoists in Odisha freed Italian national Paolo Bosusco after keeping him captive for nearly a month yesterday, the hostage crisis is still far from over with abducted tribal MLA Jhina Hikaka continuing to be held captive by another faction of the Maoists.

After 29 days in hostage Paolo Bosusco, held hostage by the Odisha unit of the Maoist party has been released.

With the Maoists' 96-hour deadline drawing to a close, the Odisha government has finally given to the ultras' demand for the release of the abducted Italian national, Paolo Bosusco. With this, Mr Bosusco is expected to walk free soon after spending over three weeks in captivity.

Even as the 96 hour deadline for the release of the Italian tourist, given to the Odisha government by Sabyasachi Panda gets closer, the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik made another statement to the house clarifying that the Maoist chief was not correct in his accusations of the government efforts being a farce. "Yesterday Sabyasachi Panda...

Talks have begun at the State Guest House in Bhubaneshwar to end hostage crisis in Odisha, where an Italian national and an MLA are being held by two rival factions of Naxals. Three government officials and two Maoist representatives are in talks to strike a deal in exchange for the freedom of the captives.

In exchange for an Italian tour guide and an MLA, the Odisha government has agreed to release 27 prisoners, including eight Naxals. The hostages are being held by two rival factions of Naxals. No date has been fixed yet for the release of the prisoners. Here are 10 big facts on this story:

In exchange for an Italian tour guide and an MLA, the Odisha government has agreed to release 27 prisoners, including eight Naxals. The hostages are being held by two rival factions of Naxals. Here are 10 big facts on this story:

Even as one Italian national was released by the Maoists in Odisha, hectic negotiations are on to ensure safe release of the second Italian national and a ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA still held captive.

A day after the Italian tourist held hostage by Maoists in Odisha was released, a handwritten note in Odia, from the abducted MLA, Jhinn Hikaka addressed to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been received by the state government. In his letter Mr Hikaka says he is safe but has asked that for his release, all anti-Maoist combing and intelligence op...

After spending 11 days in Maoist captivity, one of the two Italian nationals, Claudio Colangelo, who was taken hostage, has been released in Odisha's Kandhmal district. The other Italian national, Bosusco Paolo, is still being held hostage by the Maoists.