Three Italian hostages freed by US-led special forces in Iraq returned home after nearly two months of captivity to emotional scenes yesterday
boosting Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi before European elections
But it emerged the three learned only after their rescue on Tueday that a colleague had been killed by the heavily armed kidnappers two days after all four civilian security guards were seized on April 12
Salvatore Stefio said at a debriefing with Italian investigators the kidnappers told them they had freed Fabrizio Quattrocchi
The kidnappers issued a video tape at the time to an Arabic television station claiming responsibility for killing Mr Quattrocchi after Italy rejected their demands to withdraw its 2,700 troops from Iraq
we're home," Mr Agliana shouted as his sister Antonella ran across the tarmac at Rome's Ciampino airport to embrace him
and now that I've touched him I feel even better," she said
Mr Stefio's father Angelo fell to his knees on the tarmac before embracing his son and handing over a large Italian flag he had kept flying from the balcony of his home since the hostages were seized
"Now we're ready to have a big party," he told reporters
who worked in Iraq for a US security firm and looked relaxed in T-shirts
did not make any public statements about their captivity
head of the Foreign Ministry's crisis unit
told reporters: "They were not treated particularly well
They slept on the ground and they were locked in a bathroom for some days."
Mr Cevese said at one point the kidnappers demanded Mr Stefio hand over his wedding ring but he refused
challenging them with the words: "Go ahead and shoot me."
The militants managed to take his ring nonetheless
He said Mr Quattrocchi was probably killed because he had an identity card issued by US-led occupation authorities
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The person who will have the pressure of inaugurating a new winning season for Juventus on his shoulders.
Which is not easy, but after the championship won with Napoli Giuntoli is ready for a new important adventure. He will work closely with another Tuscan passed through Pistoia in his career as a footballer and coach: Massimiliano Allegri he is ready for this tandem with the sporting director, in a season that the coach hopes will be a recovery for the black and white colours.
The character Giuntoli is being talked about a lot in these hours from national TV. Going to talk to his friends and family in Agliana, the city in the province of Pistoia where he was born.