Italy: Former Iraqi hostage to run in elections.

Wants to defend "Christian identity."

A former hostage in Iraq, Salvatore Stefio, said on Monday that he plans to run in Italy's upcoming elections on April 13-14 under a right-wing conservative party, in order to defend what he calls "Christian identity".

Stefio, 38, said that he plans to leave the post-fascist Alleanza Nazionale party, run by Gianfranco Fini, to join La Destra, a right-wing conservative party led by Francesco Storace.

Stefio was one of four Italians abducted near Baghdad on 12 April 2004 while working as a private security guard.

One of those kidnapped, Fabrizio Quattrocchi, was later executed and his death was recorded on video by his captors. Special forces later rescued the other men, Salvatore Stefio, Umberto Cupertino and Maurizio Agliana.

"In the past Fini's party would have had more respect for the victims of Islamic fundamentalism," said Stefio. "Today instead the party is thinking about bringing the Koran into schools and letting Muslim citizens (of Italy) to run in the elections," he said.

"I am with La Destra to reaffirm the right to defend the Christian identity and civilisation against the threat of Islamic fundamentalism."

I do believe it will ultimately come to the point where you will be forced to choose a side...

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