http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3628977.stm
The Italian hostage killed by kidnappers in Iraq was a defiant "hero" in his final moments, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini says.
The dead man was identified as Fabrizio Quattrocchi, 36, a security guard.
As the gunman's pistol was pointing at him the hostage "tried to take off his hood and shouted: 'now I'll show you how an Italian dies,'" he said.
Meanwhile, three Japanese hostages held in Iraq have been released, the government in Tokyo has confirmed.
The Arabic TV station Al-Jazeera has broadcast images of the three, who it said had been handed over safe and well to Muslim clerics.
Japan is investigating reports that two more of its citizens - freelance journalists - have been abducted.