ROME -- Italy's reluctance to lead Western military intervention in  Libya against Isis and the plight of Italian hostages there was at the top of the agenda at a summit meeting being held by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and French President Francois Hollande in Venice on Tuesday, amongst other important issues, diplomatic sources said.  An environmental demonstration has also led to increased security in the area.

 Renzi was reportedly due to seek Hollande’s support against austerity measures and in favour of increased flexibility.  Whilst the two leaders are in agreement over some issues, such as the need for increased investment in Europe to form a body that works cohesively, their views differ hugely on migration, and the strategy in Libya – where Hollande favours intervention and Renzi is accused of being too timid.

 In Libya, an ISIS commando has entered Tunisia to attack the town of Ben Guardene, resulting in over 50 deaths, 35 of which are reported to be jihadists, after a fierce battle with Tunisian security forces, before the remaining terrorists escaped to the nearby island of Djerba.  Meanwhile the two freed Italian hostages, Gino Pollicardo and Filippo Calcagno, have spoken out, saying that from the moment they were parted from their two colleagues, Salvatore Failla and Fausto Piano, on March 2 they didn’t see they their imprisoners and didn’t receive either food or water, so they decided and succeeded to escape on March 4.

 They have said that in the preceding months they were subjected to both physical and psychological violence, and held prisoner by an Islamic group, that is not directly linked with ISIS, almost certainly a band of ‘common criminals’.  The Italian government in reportedly having problems retrieving the bodies of Failla and Piano, who were killed in clash between their captors and the military soon after being separated from Pollicardo and Calcagno, from Sabratha without the Libyans carrying out an autopsy.  The two freed hostages criticised the government for their inaction, claiming that even the efforts to get them home once they were free were poorly executed, with Pollicardo stating, “Don’t say we were freed.  We freed ourselves.  We were abandoned, I won’t say by whom but it’s clear.  They knew we were there: they should have done more.  Even after we got out, coordination was sorely lacking.”

 The Libyan foreign minister Ali Ramadan spoke out saying that if a sum was paid for ransom, their sovereignty has been violated and the terrorists have been financed.  At the same time, the foreign minister for the rival Tripoli government, Aly Abuzaakouk, has said that his government will never accept foreign military aid, “we can fight ISIS alone.”

 First came the endorsement of Italy as a leading role in possible military intervention in Libya, then the US Ambassador in Rome, John Phillips, issued the statement that “the US expect 5,000 Italian soldiers for Libya.”  Now the United States are backtracking saying, “We will wait for Italy to decide and define the details of their involvement.”  This comes after Renzi put the breaks on, only a few days after news that indicated acceleration in the preparation for an anti-ISIS intervention in Libya.  The Italian Prime Minister spoke out saying, “War is not a videogame, it’s a serious thing, and we need to respect the word.  With 5,000 men to invade Libya, Italy with me in charge will not go.”

 Demonstrators from the movements NoTAV (who are against the high-speed rail between Turin and Lyon, due to the huge environmental, economic and social impact it would have on the Piedmont region), NoTrivelle (who are against drilling for oil in the Adriatic) and NoGrandiNavi (protesting against the large ships and cruise liners that put into port in the Venice area) have lined five km (three miles) of streets around the area that the meeting is due to take place.

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