12/16/2004



AP Television News Script for Video
 

Iraq Italian 2

Militants show body of man they say is Italian citizen they killed IRAQ ITALIAN2 161204N

16/12/2004

EF04/1220

10:13:17:02

00:04:09:10

APTN

near Ramadi, Dec 15, 2004

Arabic/Nats



SHOTLIST:

1. Victim blindfolded on ground

2. Gunman pointing weapon at victim

3. Wide of two masked gunmen pointing their guns towards victim

4. Close up victim's face, blindfolded 5. Wide of two masked gunmen pointing their guns towards an apparently lifeless victim 6. Close up of gunmen 7. Wide of two gunmen and victim 8. Italian passport and Lebanese resident's permit 9. Lebanese residence permit 10. Close up of Lebanese resident's permit 11. Close up name on Lebanese resident's permit 12. Close up Italian passport 13. Close up Iranian tourist visa 14. Wide shot of four masked men with one of them reading a statement by a group calling itself ''The Islamic Movement of Iraqi Mujahideen'', zooms in to man reading statement while holding Italian passport , pulls out to wide of scene SOUNDBITE (Arabic): Masked Man, "We have warned all foreigners in the past against entering Iraq, especially those from countries which took part in occupying our country. Today, our platoons followed one of those elements and chased him after he refused to obey the orders of our heroic squads, who swore to God the Almighty to kill those whom their countries send troops to occupy Iraq. Today, the Islamic Movement of western Iraq Mujahideen gives a present to Berlusconi's stupidity. Because of these 'stupidities'(sic), we announce the death of the Italian citizen Sanator Fincint (Santoro Vincent) known as Salifatori (Salvatore) whom we found many pieces of evidence in his possession , all of which indicate that he was following the path of his American masters."

15. Close up masked man, pans to other masked gunmen with a banner reading ''The Islamic Movement of Iraqi Mujahideen.''

16. Banner reading 'The Islamic Movement of Iraqi Mujahideen.''

17. Letter in Arabic, pans to letter written in English sent by Italian Embassy in Lebanon to Iraqi authorities requesting visa for Salvatore Santoro to work in a humanitarian project for children called "Contact" in Iraq 18. Close up letter in English

STORYLINE:

Militants in western Iraq claim they killed a man - thought to be an Italian citizen.

Three local journalists working for the Associated Press were taken to a desert location near the town of Ramadi where militants posed with guns over an apparently lifeless body. The man's hands were tied behind his back and he was blind-folded.

The journalists were shown documents which, the insurgents claimed, belonged to the man. The papers carried the name Salvatore Santoro .They included an Italian passport and a Lebanese resident's permit.

A document from the Italian Embassy in Beirut, requesting an Iraqi visa for Santoro, referred to him as an aid worker helping Iraqi children.

In a statement, read by a masked man, a group calling itself "The Islamic Movement of Western Iraq Mujahideen" said they killed Santoro as "a present to Berlusconi's stupidity" - an apparent reference to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's support of the US led coalition.

The Italian Foreign Ministry in Rome said it was investigating a report an Italian citizen had been killed in Iraq after being taken captive by a militant group.

The ministry said the report was unconfirmed and should be viewed with caution until verified.

In a statement they said the victim may have been Salvatore Santoro, 52, an Italian who lived in Britain for years.

The ministry added Italian officials were not aware he was in Iraq.