An Islamist group said it had abducted an Italian in Iraq and gave Rome 48 hours to announce it was pulling its troops out of the country, Al Jazeera television reported today.
The Arab satellite television said it had received a statement from the group and a videotape of the hostage identifying himself and saying he was a 56-year-old Italian journalist.
The Italian government said its troops would stay in Iraq despite the threat.
A statement from Prime Minister Mr Silivo Berlusconi's office said it would do everything possible to free the journalist, Mr Enzo Baldoni, but that the troops would stay in Iraq.