One Italian hostage released by Indian Maoists
Maoist rebels on Sunday released one of two Italian men who were kidnapped 11 days ago in the eastern state of Orissa.
"They have finally released me today. Let's hope they release Paolo (Bosusco) soon," Claudio Colangelo, 61, told the NDTV news channel.
The pair were kidnapped while on an adventure holiday in Orissa, one of several regions where an armed Maoist insurgency holds sway over large areas of the countryside.
"I have no idea what conditions have been laid down by the Maoists. I hope they will understand that Paolo is nothing to do with the whole issue," Colangelo said.
The Maoists had issued a series of demands for the Italians' release, including a ban on tourists visiting tribal areas, the end of the government's anti-rebel operations and the release of jailed Maoist leaders.
State officials in Orissa and Italian diplomats, who have flown to Orissa, have been working to try to secure the release of the two men.
Bosusco has been living in Orissa for a decade and runs an adventure tourism and trekking company, while Colangelo is a doctor in Rome.
Two Indians accompanying the Italians were released a week ago.
The Maoist guerrillas, who say they are fighting for the rights of tribal people and landless farmers, have previously kidnapped local officials and villagers, freeing some after negotiations but killing others.
The abductions came amid strained ties between New Delhi and Rome over last month's arrest of two Italian soldiers on charges of shooting two Indian fishermen from their cargo ship after mistaking them for pirates.
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