Italian priest 'executed in Syria'

The Secretary General of the Syrian National Front said on Monday that kidnapped priest and peace activist Paolo ?Dell’Oglio has been executed in Syria. The opposition official, Lama al-Atassi, posted a statement on her Facebook page saying she had heard from an unnamed but trusted source within the Free Syrian Army that the Italian Jesuit had been executed. Atassi claimed western countries were aware of the news but were “too embarrassed” to make it public. Unconfirmed reports suggested the priest was killed by the jihadist group Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIS) for his Christianity, and supporting non-Islamist Syrian opposition groups.? Father Paolo disappeared two weeks ago after he went to meet commanders of ISIS to ask for the release of activists kidnapped by the group. Known for his charisma and good relations with peaceful anti-Assad activists, he has lobbied several Arab and Western officials to support the democratic opposition for fear of the rise of radical Islamism. Protesters have held daily demonstrations against jihadists in the northern Syrian city of Raqa, demanding the release of "hundreds" of missing people, including Father Paulo, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Monday. Additional source: AFP