Iraqi gunmen killed an Italian hostage – and threatened in a videotape to execute three other kidnapped Italians unless US troops pull out of the country.

A French television journalist kidnapped in Iraq as he was filming an American military convoy under attack has been freed, his company said today.

More than 40 hostages from 12 nations are being held captive in Iraq, the US revealed today as four missing Italian security guards and a French journalist added to the total.