Italy’s government insisted Tuesday it will keep its troops in Iraq despite a demand by militants holding an Italian journalist hostage that Italian forces pull out within 48 hours.

Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni, who has been missing in Iraq since last week, has been kidnapped by militants, according to a video broadcast on the pan-Arab Al-Jazeera television station.

An Italian freelance journalist remained missing in Iraq today, authorities said, amid reports that his Iraqi interpreter may have been found dead.