The holy warriors in Iraq have murdered another helpless hostage for Allah: Islamist group executes Italian hostage in Iraq: Al-Jazeera.

DOHA (AFP) - An Islamist group has executed Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni in Iraq, Arabic-language satellite news channel Al-Jazeera reported.

Baldoni’s captors, a group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq, had on Tuesday threatened to kill their hostage unless Italy withdrew its 3,000 troops from Iraq within 48 hours.

The Italian government initially rejected the kidnappers’ ultimatum, saying it would maintain its “civil and military” presence in Iraq, but early on Thursday Rome said it was prepared to pull its soldiers out if the interim government in Baghdad requested it.

Italy’s Ansa news agency quoted Italian sources in Iraq as confirming the Al-Jazeera report of Baldoni’s death.

Baldoni’s colleagues at Italian weekly Diario were stunned by the report of his death.

“We were so optimistic. We couldn’t believe he wouldn’t get out,” Baldoni’s colleague Gianni Barbacetto, told AFP.