Berlusconi wants Italy media blackout on hostages

ROME (Reuters) - Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has asked Italy's
television and radio networks not to broadcast stories about Italian hostages in
Iraq.

Berlusconi's office said in a statement on Monday that some broadcast media
reports had been "conflicting, unreliable and dangerous for the safety of the
hostages". It made no mention of print media.

Three Italians working for a U.S. security firm have been held in Iraq since
they were kidnapped outside Baghdad last month.

A fourth Italian snatched with them was murdered after the captors demanded
the withdrawal of Italy's 2,700 troops in Iraq.

Some television programmes said they would not adhere to Berlusconi's
request, some said they would, while others said they would be more cautious in
their reporting on the situation.

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If Berlusconi orders that into effect, all the media outlets he owns in Italy will have to turn off their transmitters.