BAGHDAD/ROME, April 15 (Xinhuanet) -- One of the four Italian hostages was confirmed executed by Iraqi kidnappers early Thursday,while Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr who led an anti-US uprising in southern Iraq agreed to soften his stance on negotiations with the US-led coalition.

¡¡¡¡ITALIAN HOSTAGE CONFIRMED KILLED

    Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said early Thursday that he had received confirmation that Fabrizio Quattrocchi, one of the four kidnapped Italians in Iraq, had been killed.

    "Unfortunately we have the confirmation," said Frattini, addingthat the Italian ambassador to Qatar had seen a video footage received by the Qatar-based al-Jazeera TV.

    The government would do "what is possible and impossible" to free the remaining three, Frattni said.

    The four Italians, who were working for a US security firm, hadbeen missing since Monday. According to al-Jazeera, the kidnappersdemanded Italy immediately withdraw its troops from Iraq and threatened to kill the three others.

    But Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a major ally of the United States in Iraq, said early Thursday that the killing ofan Italian hostage would not affect the country's value and peace efforts there.

    About 3,000 Italian troops are stationed in Iraq, the second biggest non-US contingent in the US-led coalition after Britain.

    In another development, two more Japanese civilians might have been kidnapped in Iraq, Japan's Kyodo News reported Thursday.

    A Japanese non-governmental organization received an e-mail claiming that two Japanese were abducted Wednesday afternoon when they were heading for the west of Baghdad to cover an emergency landing of a US MH-53 helicopter.

    According to the e-mail, one of the two Japanese may be Jumpei Yasuda, a freelance journalist.

    The Japanese government was trying to confirm the information as three Japanese are already being held hostage in Iraq.

    "We've received the information that the Japanese have been detained in Iraq. We're confirming it," a Japanese Foreign Ministry official told reporters.

    ANTI-AMERICAN CLERIC SOFTENS TOUGH STANCE

    Sadr, the Shi'ite cleric outlawed by the American occupation authority in Iraq, has dropped all his conditions for negotiationswith US-led coalition troops, al-Jazeera TV channel reported Wednesday.

    Sadr has pledged to obey the guidance of Al Marjeiya, the highest Shi'ite religious authority, according to Qais al-Khazaali,a close aide to the cleric.

    "Sadr is ready to follow what the Marjeiya says and to drop theconditions he had set for a mediation," al-Khazaali told a press conference in Najaf.

    Despite Sadr's declaration, US forces insisted Wednesday that they would capture or kill the cleric, who is wanted for the alleged murder of a pro-American rival last year.

    Al-Khazaali did not elaborate whether the 30-year-old Sadr willdisband his Mehdi militia or answer murder charges against him.

    Sadr had previously said he would only enter into negotiations if US troops withdraw from residential areas and if the occupying forces release those of his supporters who had been detained.

    "I am ready to sacrifice my blood for this country," Sadr said in an interview with Lebanon's al-Manar TV.

    CEASEFIRE IN FALLUJAH EXTENDED

    The ceasefire in the Iraqi city of Fallujah was extended for 48hours Wednesday as air strikes and sporadic exchange of fire between insurgents and US Marines continued.

    Abdul Fattah Hardan, a member of Fallujah negotiating delegation, was quoted as saying that the ceasefire would allow hospitals to reopen and "we call on Iraqi police and the civil defense corps to enter the city to be in charge of security."

    He criticized the US troops for attacking the city Tuesday and Wednesday despite the ceasefire, saying the US snipers were still shooting in the city and the warplanes continued flying over it.

    The ceasefire could be further prolonged as more progress is expected to be achieved during the coming rounds of negotiations, which may allow the fleeing Fallujah residents to return, he added.

    Four US Marines were killed in attacks Wednesday in Iraq's western province of Anbar, US military said.

    The US military said in a statement that the four Marines belonged to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and were killed "asa result of enemy action."

    More than 80 US soldiers and around 700 Iraqis have been killedduring fighting over the past nine days, including over 600 Iraqisin Fallujah, where the US Marines launched a major offensive last week after the murder and mutilation of four US contractors. Enditem