| Italy is prepared to pay a ransom to free three security guards who were kidnapped in Iraq more than a week ago. Barbara Contini, the Italian in charge of the southern city of Nasiriyah, suggested today that a ransom could be paid since kidnappings were common in Iraq. âEvery one pays. Itâs been done for centuries and centuries,â Contini told the Milan newspaper Corriere della Sera. âI am convinced that weâre dealing with local bands. People organised in tribal ways, who have the culture of kidnapping in their blood but with whom you can negotiate. There are no insurmountable barriers,â she said. |