Two Italian women freed from captivity in Iraq for a reputed million dollars ransom said today they feared for their lives throughout their three-week abduction, despite what they called ”privileged” treatment from their captors.

THE freeing of the two Italian aid workers, Simona Torretta and Simona Pari, raised hopes other hostages might be released.

SHACKLED and caged, Iraq hostage Ken Bigley wept as he called British Prime Minister Tony Blair a liar in a new video issued by his kidnappers last night.

One of the two freed Italian aid workers said today that their abductors in Iraq taught them about Islam and reassured them they would not die.

Kidnappers released two female Italian aid workers and five other hostages, raising hopes for foreigners still in captivity.

TWO Italian women aid workers freed in Iraq after being held hostage for three weeks arrived home late last night, as the entire nation celebrated their safe release.

There are reports that three Egyptian hostages have been freed in Iraq.

Two Italian women aid workers, kidnapped in Iraq three weeks ago, have been released, Al Jazeera television reported today.

Lil Bigley, the 86-year-old mother of captive Ken Bigley, was taken to hospital again this afternoon.

TWO statements have surfaced on the internet from different groups, each claiming to have killed two kidnapped Italian aid workers.

Muslim scholars in Baghdad tonight expressed doubts that two Italian women aid workers had been murdered.

An internet statement by a group which had claimed to have kidnapped two women aid workers in Iraq has said that it has killed its hostages.

A Briton a two Americans were kidnapped in Baghdad today, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said.

US FORCES launched air strikes on Fallujah yesterday, targeting what they said was a meeting of key loyalists of their top foe in Iraq, Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

US warplanes struck an alleged hide-out where operatives from an al Qaida-linked group had gathered today killing at least 20 people.

MILITANTS pounded central Baghdad yesterday with one of their most intense mortar barrages ever, targeting the Green Zone.

Italy will not bow to the kidnappers of two Italian aid workers in Iraq who are demanding that it withdraw its forces from Iraq, an Italian envoy said today.

DOZENS of international aid agencies considered quitting Iraq yesterday following the abduction of two Italian women, as the US military death toll rose above 1,000.

Pope John Paul II led prayers today for the release of two Italian aid workers kidnapped by an armed gang in Iraq, while Premier Silvio Berlusconi urged a united front against terrorism.

Armed men in military uniforms stormed the Baghdad office of an aid group today and kidnapped two Italian women and two Iraqis.