Italian journalist kidnapped, Shiites maintain electoral lead

BAGHDAD (AFP) — An Italian reporter was captured outside a Baghdad mosque, while Iraq's main Shiite coalition held onto a commanding lead as vote counting neared its half-way point five days after the polls.

Giuliana Sgrena, 56, a correspondent for the leftist Il Manifesto daily, was abducted after visiting a mosque where refugees have been encamped since the devastating US-led assault on Fallujah in November.

The area is one of notorious danger for journalists. French journalist Florence Aubenas was snatched a month ago as she worked on the same story and another Western reporter narrowly escaped an abduction attempt 10 days ago.

An Iraqi guard working on the Baghdad University compound sheltering the refugees, witnessed the capture and said Sgrena's driver and translator were spared when a gunfight broke out between the kidnappers and campus security.

Il Manifesto co-editor Gabriele Polo said the journalist had called ...