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2 Italian Hostages in Libya Are Freed 2 Italian Hostages in Libya Are Freed
(35 minutes later)
CAIRO — Two Italian civilians who had been held hostage in Libya since July have been released, Italy’s Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. But two fellow hostages captured at the same time now appear to have been killed. CAIRO — Two Italian civilians who had been held hostage in Libya since July have been released, Italy’s Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. But two fellow hostages captured at the same time appear to have been killed.
The Italians, Filippo Calcagno and Gino Pollicardo, technicians with Bonatti, an Italian contractor that does engineering and construction work for the oil and gas industries, “are no longer in the hands in their captors, are now under the protection of the Military Council of Sabratha and are in good health,” the Foreign Ministry said.The Italians, Filippo Calcagno and Gino Pollicardo, technicians with Bonatti, an Italian contractor that does engineering and construction work for the oil and gas industries, “are no longer in the hands in their captors, are now under the protection of the Military Council of Sabratha and are in good health,” the Foreign Ministry said.
Two other Bonatti employees, Fausto Piani and Salvatore Failla, were probably killed in a firefight between Islamic State fighters and rival militias in Sabratha, the Foreign Ministry said a day earlier. All four hostages had been captured west of Tripoli in July.Two other Bonatti employees, Fausto Piani and Salvatore Failla, were probably killed in a firefight between Islamic State fighters and rival militias in Sabratha, the Foreign Ministry said a day earlier. All four hostages had been captured west of Tripoli in July.
A video of Mr. Calcagno and Mr. Pollicardo, evidently taken after their release and showing them smiling, if somewhat drawn, circulated on social media. In the video, the two men said they were safe at an unidentified police station in Libya and being treated well. A video of Mr. Calcagno and Mr. Pollicardo, evidently taken after their release and showing them smiling, if somewhat drawn, circulated on social media. In the video, the two men said that they were safe at a police station in Libya, which was not identified, and that they were being treated well.
“We hope to urgently return to Italy, because we need to see our families,” said Mr. Pollicardo, who added in a separate Facebook post that they were “physically quite well but psychologically devastated.”“We hope to urgently return to Italy, because we need to see our families,” said Mr. Pollicardo, who added in a separate Facebook post that they were “physically quite well but psychologically devastated.”
The situation of hostages in Libya, which splintered into chaos after the longtime dictator Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi was overthrown in 2011, has been a delicate subject.The situation of hostages in Libya, which splintered into chaos after the longtime dictator Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi was overthrown in 2011, has been a delicate subject.
Recently, two Italian hostages were killed in clashes between Islamic State militants and troops loyal to the government in Tripoli, the capital, and allied militias.
Last month, two Serbian hostages died in American airstrikes on an Islamic State training camp in western Libya, angering the leaders of the Balkan country.Last month, two Serbian hostages died in American airstrikes on an Islamic State training camp in western Libya, angering the leaders of the Balkan country.
Sabratha is in the northwestern corner of Libya, an area that has seen violent clashes between Islamic State fighters and local forces.Sabratha is in the northwestern corner of Libya, an area that has seen violent clashes between Islamic State fighters and local forces.
The Associated Press quoted Hussein al-Zawadi, who leads the Military Council in Sabratha, as saying that Mr. Pollicardo and Mr. Calcagno were freed from a house in a northwestern district of Sabratha.The Associated Press quoted Hussein al-Zawadi, who leads the Military Council in Sabratha, as saying that Mr. Pollicardo and Mr. Calcagno were freed from a house in a northwestern district of Sabratha.
Mr. Zawadi said that the Italians had broken down the front door, and that neighbors alerted local fighters, who then came to the Italians’ aid. Mr. Zawadi said the Italians were in “good condition,” although they had not eaten in a week, The A.P. reported. Mr. Zawadi said that the Italians had broken down the front door, and that neighbors had alerted local fighters, who then came to the Italians’ aid. Mr. Zawadi said the Italians were in “good condition,” although they had not eaten in a week, The A.P. reported.