From: "George Sherwood" 

Seems like between the Italians and the Germans there is going to be quite
a business going on.  Their policy has been set now to pay.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1766796,00.html?gusrc=rss


Two German hostages kidnapped in Iraq arrived home yesterday as Iraq's
ambassador to Germany claimed a "load of money" had been paid to
secure their release.

Alaa al-Hashimi, said the German government had handed over a "large
amount" to the kidnappers of RenŽC BrŽéunlich and Thomas Nitzschke,
who were freed on Tuesday after 99 days in captivity. "Regarding the
payment of ransom, I don't know. But I assume it was a large amount of
money," the ambassador told Germany's ARD public television station.
The Iraqi government had no part in the release, he said.


George

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