The al-Jazeera television channel reports that militants in Iraq have killed their Italian hostage.
The Arabic broadcaster says it received a videotape from the militant group calling itself the Islamic Army apparently showing the execution of journalist Enzo Baldoni. The group had said it would kill the journalist unless Italy withdrew its troops from Iraq.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi called the murder an act of barbarity and stressed his determination to fight terrorism.
On Thursday, another militant group, the Holders of the Black Banners, said it would release its seven hostages from India, Kenya and Egypt if their employer stopped operating in Iraq. Those men have been held captive for more than one month.
There was no immediate comment from the hostages' Kuwaiti employer.
Information for this report is provided by AP and AFP.