Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini called for political unity following the kidnapping in Baghdad earlier on Friday of an Italian journalist, urging the opposition to put aside differences on Iraqi policies.

Fini told a news conference that the government was making every effort to secure the release of Giuliana Sgrena "in the shortest time possible."

The Italian opposition is critical of Italian troop deployment in Iraq and members of the centre left have argued that the growing violence has made the contingent's mission untenable.

Fini called for "full cooperation from everyone", stressing that "utmost transparency" was needed to resolve the crisis.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said negotiations are already under way to secure Sgrena's release.

The Italian premier said he hoped that the kidnapping was "a political affair" and assured Sgrena's family and friends that "everything that can be done is being done."

Berlusconi said he planned to meet with several key ministers Friday evening to discuss the kidnapping.

In Washington, the American State Department said it would do whatever it can to help the Italian government to obtain Sgrena's release.

"We're ready to cooperate," a spokesman said.

Source: Xinhua