"We are extremely happy about the release of Giuliana"

"We are extremely moved and happy" said Reporters Without Borders Secretary General Robert Ménard at the news of the release in Iraq of Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena. "The efforts by everyone, particularly the press and the Italian government, have finally paid off. After all the confusion that followed the broadcast of the videotape of Florence (Aubenas), finally some good news. We want to see in this release a sign of hope for Florence and Hussein (Hanoun)". Arabic language satellite television al-Jazeera announced on 4 March that the Il Manifesto correspondent in Iraq had been released. A few minutes later, the paper's management in Rome confirmed the news, citing Italian secret service sources. The news was also confirmed by Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. Giuliana Sgrena, 56, was abducted by armed men in the centre of Baghdad on 4 February 2005. She had just been interviewing residents of the city of Falluja, who had taken refuge in a mosque within Baghdad University. The portrait of the Italian journalist hanging in the Republic square in Paris will be ceremoniously taken down on Monday 7 March at 3pm.