White House hails release of Italian hostages
The White House hailed the “good news” that two female Italian aid workers taken hostage in Iraq have been released.”It’s good news to hear, anytime hostages are released in the safe custody of authorities,” spokesman Scott McClellan said as US President George W. Bush prepared at his ranch for the first debate of the 2004 White House race. Simona Torretta and Simona Pari, both 29, who were seized by armed men on September 7 at their office in Baghdad, could be back with their families by Tuesday night, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said in Rome.Full Story