Italian hostages tell of ordeal

The women said they were taught about Islam

The two Italian aid workers released by their captors in Iraq have said being together helped them through the worst of their ordeal.

"Our serenity much depended on our being together," Simona Torretta said at a press conference on Thursday.

She and Simona Pari were held for three weeks after being kidnapped from their offices in Baghdad.

They returned home on Tuesday to a hero's welcome. There have been claims that a ransom secured their release.

Italy has denied paying any money or negotiating with the hostage-takers.

But a senior politician said that was only an "official" denial, and that he believed $1m changed hands.

We have always tried to unite two very different worlds, and we hope that dialogue will continue Simona Pari Italian aid worker Women's account Kidnappings: Have your say Tangible relief in Rome

Italian Red Cross Commissioner Maurizio Scelli, who played a role in securing the women's release, emphatically denied that a ransom had been paid.

The two women - aid workers for the humanitarian group Bridge to Baghdad - thanked everyone involved in their release, from "the government" to "Muslim and Christian communities in Italy and the world".

Ms Torretta said they were treated "with dignity and respect" by their captors.

"They brought us soap and books on Islam, made us read the Koran, and taught us the principles of Islam," she said.

Ms Pari said: "We have always tried to unite two very different worlds, and we hope that dialogue will continue."

'Iraqis still hostage'

The pair said there were difficult times, particularly in the first few days after their capture.

"Being together gave us a lot of strength and helped us to overcome the most difficult moments," Ms Torretta said.

Fabio Alberti, the president of Bridge to Baghdad, said he hoped now his colleagues' ordeal was over, his organisation could get back to its work in Iraq.

"Now we'd like to go back... to helping the Iraqi people, who in a way are still being held a hostage - of the war."