Four Italian journalists kidnapped in Libya

Four Italian journalists were kidnapped by Gaddafi loyalists this morning on the outskirts of Tripoli, according to the Italian foreign ministry in Rome.

Foreign ministry spokesman Maurizio Massari told CNN that the four newspaper reporters were stopped on a road about 50 miles from the centre of Tripoli. Their driver, a Libyan national, was reportedly killed at the scene, with the journalists beaten and taken to an apartment building in Tripoli.

It is not known who was responsible for the kidnapping, but Massari said the ministry had assumed it was pro-Gaddafi forces.

The journalists have been named as Elisabetta Rosaspina and Giuseppe Sarcina from Corriere della Sera; Domenico Quirico from La Stampa; and Claudio Monici from Avvenire.

Monici was reportedly allowed to contact his newsroom and he told colleagues that the four were unharmed.

The reports follow news yesterday that around 35 international journalists had been allowed to leave the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli after spending five days trapped during heavy fighting between rebels and Gaddafi loyalists.

BBC News correspondent Matthew Price said the conditions had "heavily deteriorated" towards the end, becoming "miserable" as food and water started to run out and they were prevented from leaving by armed guards.

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