Italians Criticized for Hostage Swap

Italian daily La Repubblica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo, left, is greeted by Italian Premier Romano Prodi upon his arrival at Ciampino military airport early Tuesday, March 20, 2007. Mastrogiacomo, kidnapped in Afghanistan by the Taliban two weeks ago was released Monday. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (Gregorio Borgia - AP)

ROME -- Italy's negotiation for the release of Taliban militants in exchange for the freedom of an Italian hostage in Afghanistan has placed Premier Romano Prodi in the firing line days before a crucial parliamentary vote on keeping the country's troops in Afghanistan.

The move has drawn the ire of the conservative opposition _ whose backing might be necessary in the Senate vote next week _ and the criticism of allies in the U.S. and Europe. It also rekindled long-standing questions over Rome's handling of hostage situations.

Government officials said the Afghan government freed five Taliban prisoners to win the release of La Repubblica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who had been captured two weeks earlier.

The controversy overshadowed Italy's joy over Mastrogiacomo's release. While criticism came mainly from the conservative opposition, some within Prodi's ranks also expressed unease.

"We Italians are by now considered unreliable by our own allies," said former premier Silvio Berlusconi who himself came under scrutiny over unconfirmed allegations his government paid ransoms to free Italians abducted in Iraq.

Defense Undersecretary Lorenzo Forcieri shot back that the opposition had given "carte blanche to do everything possible" to free Mastrogiacomo, and that to voice criticism now "was too easy."

"For us, relations with the United States are fundamental, one of the pillars of Italian foreign policy," he told Italian state radio.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States did not approve of the deal, which could have unintended consequences.

"Our views are ... very clear: We don't negotiate with terrorists; we don't advise others to do so as well," McCormack said. "The concern I think is obvious in that you have individuals who are potentially quite dangerous who have been released from prison."

Defense Secretary Robert Gates extended the criticism to the Afghan government. Asked at a Pentagon news conference whether he was troubled by the deal, given that it implies the Afghan government has allowed Taliban militants to resume their fight against U.S. troops in Afghanistan, Gates replied "yes."

"This was between the Afghan government and the Italians," he added. "We are not the sovereign government of Afghanistan, so I think we have influence but we don't have the authority or the ability to dictate decisions to that government."

Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema, who said he spoke Thursday with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said he did not regret that a life had been saved.