An Italian journalist being held hostage in Iraq is expected to be released in a few days, according to an Internet statement in the name of the militant group alleged to be holding her.
Ms Giuliana Sgrena (56), a reporter for the communist daily Il Manifesto, was kidnapped on Friday near Baghdad University.
A group calling itself the Islamic Jihad Organization claimed to have kidnapped the woman and gave Italy 72 hours to withdraw its troops from Iraq. But it made no threats to kill her or say what would happen if its demands were not met.
"After the judicial committee of the Jihad Organization interrogated the Italian captive Giuliana Sgrena, it has been found that the Italian captive is not involved in spying for the infidels in Iraq," the group said in a statement posted on a website that frequently carries messages from Islamic militants.
"In response to the appeal made by the Muslim Scholars' Association, we, in the Jihad Organization, will free the Italian captive in the next few days," the statement added.
The statement's authenticity could not be verified.
Il Manifestohas strongly opposed the US-led conflict in Iraq. It has fiercely criticised Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's decision to deploy 3,000 troops in the US-led multinational force in Iraq.
AP