ROME, April 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini repeated Wednesday that no deals would be cut with the Iraqi guerrillas holding four Italian hostages.

    During a briefing to Italian House foreign and defense committees, Frattini said that Italian officials could hold dialogue with organizations which had the authority to push for the hostages' release.

    "Abductions and hostage-taking are acts of terrorism which ruleout any possibility of negotiation," he said. The Italian government "will do everything possible to gain the release of thefour Italians, but with one proviso: we cannot give in to blackmail."

    Frattini stressed Italy's continued presence in Iraq was necessary, and also said Italy wants to see NATO and the United Nations working together in Iraq.

    The minister said he would push for a new UN resolution which would give "formal and explicit legitimacy" to the Iraqi government when it takes over the reins of power on June 30.

    Earlier Wednesday Frattini said Moderate Shi'ite groups in Iraqand Iran could be the channels for freeing the four Italians beingheld hostage by Iraqi militia near Baghdad. Enditem