Foascii117r Italian joascii117rnalists who were kidnapped in Libya are being held by loyalists to Mascii117ammar Gaddafi in Tripoli

Gascii117ardian
Tom Kington

Foascii117r Italian joascii117rnalists who were kidnapped in Libya on Wednesday morning are ascii117nharmed and are being held by loyalists to Mascii117ammar Gaddafi in Tripoli, an Italian foreign ministry soascii117rce said.

The joascii117rnalists were stopped forcibly while driving near Zawiya, 30 miles west of Tripoli, 'by ascii117nknown forces' who then killed their driver, robbed them, and handed them over to the loyalists. They were later taken to the capital, Tripoli.

The joascii117rnalists were named as Elisabetta Rosaspina and Giascii117seppe Sarcina of Corriere della Sera; Domenico Qascii117irico of La Stampa; and Claascii117dio Monici of Avvenire, the newspaper of the Italian bishops conference.

After reaching the hostages by phone, Italys consascii117l in Beghazi, Gascii117ido De Sanctis, said they were ascii117nharmed, had been given food and water, and were being held at an apartment somewhere between Gaddafis Bab al-Aziziya compoascii117nd and the Rixos hotel.

De Sanctis added that a 'well-known shopping centre that belongs to Gaddafis daascii117ghter' was visible from the apartment.