In a video tape released by insurgents on Wednesday, kidnapped Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena appealed to her government to withdraw troops from Iraq.

"I beg you, put an end to the occupation. Press on the Italian government to end the occupation," Sgrena said in the video tape, aired by the Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV channel.

"I came to Iraq at the end of January, to witness the situation of this people ... Hundreds of civilians were killed, among them children and old people. Women are raped ... People were dying because there is no food, water or electricity," said Sgrena, who was herself a vocal opponent of the Iraqi invasion.

"Help me to show the pictures of the children killed by bombs and war. I ask who stand with me against war to help these people who should not suffer in this way," the 56-year-old reporter for the communist daily Il Manifesto said.

Sgrena, whose speech was translated into Arabic by the channel, wore a light green jacket and a shirt, locking her fingers together and shaking her hands as if begging.

On her upper left corner, appeared words of "Mujahedeen Without Borders" written in red Arabic script.

Unidentified gunmen kidnapped Sgrena on Feb. 4 near Baghdad University.

The I1 Manifesto was strongly opposed to the US-led invasion of Iraq. It has harshly criticized Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for his decision to deploy 3,000 troops in Iraq as part of the US-led multinational force.

At least nine Italian citizens have been seized in Iraq in recent months.

Last August, an Italian journalist, Enzo Baldoni, was kidnapped between Baghdad and Najaf. He was killed by the Islamic Army in Iraq and his beheading shown on a video released on the Internet.

Source: Xinhua