Ransom rumours

Al-Rai al-Aam, one of Kuwait's leading daily newspapers, said the captors of the two Simonas have agreed to to free them, as early as this week, for a $1 million ransom. The newspaper quoted sources "very close to Islamic factions" saying they expected a "happy ending." The report, which said half of the ransom had been paid yestarday and the rest would be paid today, could not be independently confirmed and both the Italian prime minister's office and the foreign ministry said they had no immediate comment on the report.