May 22, 2006

Details have emerged that France, Italy and Germany have paid terrorists a combined $58 million to free nine hostages in Iraq. Britain's The Times has seen documents detailing the hostage payments despite earlier public denials by each country's government that no ransom money was paid. The list of payments, held by security officials in Baghdad, has angered Western diplomats who argue the payments only encourage organised crime gangs to grab more foreign captives. The ransom money has freed three French hostages, three Italians and three Germans – despite denials at the time from the respective governments. Britain has refused to pay ransom money, leading to the death of English pair Kenneth Bigley and Margaret Hassan in 2004. 1:41:55 PM