A group called Islamic Movement of Iraqi Mujahideen killed an Italian hostage called Salvatore Santoro,"
The group read a statement in the tape accusing Santoro of working for the United States,
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was investigating a claim by an Iraqi photographer who said militants showed him the body of a man of the same name with an Italian passport.
He added that neither the Italian embassy in Iraq nor the Foreign Ministry had a record of a Salvatore Santoro in Iraq, and the report should be treated with caution until confirmed.
