Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi asked Italy's television and radio networks yesterday not to broadcast stories about Italian hostages in Iraq.

Mr Berlusconi's office said in a statement that some broadcast media reports had been "conflicting, unreliable and dangerous for the safety of the hostages". It made no mention of print media.

Three Italians working for a US security firm have been held in Iraq since they were kidnapped outside Baghdad last month.

A fourth Italian snatched with them was murdered after the captors demanded the withdrawal of Italy's 2,700 troops in Iraq.

Some television programmes said they would not adhere to Mr Berlusconi's request, some said they would, while others said they would be more cautious in their reporting on the situation.

The Italians were among a number of foreigners abducted in April as US forces confronted simultaneous uprisings by insurgents west and south of the capital.

In recent weeks there have been various reports the Italian hostages would shortly be released, but they have turned out to be premature.

Government representatives in Iraq have been trying to win their freedom through intermediaries such as the Italian Red Cross.

Mr Berlusconi's family controls the Mediaset network and its three channels. Through his political office he has indirect control over state broadcaster RAI, whose Porta a Porta chat show has run several shows on the crisis.

Opposition politicians ridiculed Mr Berlusconi's request, accusing him of making statements about the hostages they said were contradictory and counterproductive.