Baghdad, Feb 6, SPA -- An extremist group has threatened to kill an Italian journalist abducted in Iraq by Monday unless Italy agrees to withdraw its troops, according to a statement posted on the Internet. The statement, which appeared Saturday on an Internetbulletin board that serves as a clearinghouse for messagesfrom extremist groups, said Giuliana Sgrena, 56, would besubjected to the "rule of God," a phrase that usually means punishment by death. There was no way to verify the authenticity of thestatement. "We in the Jihad organization in the land of the tworivers announce that the rule of God will be carried out onthe Italian hostage after 48 hours if the Italiangovernment headed by (Italian Prime Minister Silvio)Berlusconi the criminal does not announce Italy'swithdrawal from Iraq." Sgrena, a veteran reporter for the left-wing daily IlManifesto, was kidnapped Friday by gunmen who blocked hercar outside Baghdad University. The new Web message was signed by the Jihad Organization.It wasn't clear if it was the same group that posted anInternet statement hours after the abduction on Friday.--SPA1301 Local Time 1001 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/237151