Now the Menace called Boko- Haram have finally dragged all into the MUD and triggered blaming and regrets between Nigeria, Britain and Italy.

http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16184988

Two hostages - a Briton and an Italian - have been killed by terrorists in northern Nigeria in an attempted rescue operation. The effort to free Chris McManus, from northwest England, and his colleague Franco Lamolinara was launched by British special forces and the Nigerian army.

Sky sources said there were no fatalities on the British and Nigerian forces' side but there were several fatalities among the hostage-takers. Prime Minister David Cameron said the pair appeared to have died at the hands of their captors, either before or during the course of the rescue bid. Sky sources said it is believed there was a fight and during the assault the UK and Nigerian forces could not get to Mr McManus and Mr Lamolinara in time. "It strongly appears that the hostage-takers shot the hostages," the sources said.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said the pair's "killers" have been arrested and identified as members of the radical Islamist group Boko Haram. The Hostage-Takers Were Likely To Be Battle-Hardened The rescue bid was launched after the UK received credible information about the hostages' whereabouts and that their lives were under increasing threat.

Speaking in Downing Street, Mr Cameron said Mr McManus and Mr Lamolinara were captured in Birnin-Kebbi, in the north, in May last year.

"Since then, we have been working closely with the Nigerian authorities to try to find Chris and Franco, and to secure their release," he said. "The terrorists holding the two hostages made very clear threats to take their lives, including in a video that was posted on the internet.

"After months of not knowing where they were being held, we received credible information about their location. A window of opportunity arose to secure their release. "We also had reason to believe that their lives were under imminent and growing danger. "Preparations were made to mount an operation to attempt to rescue Chris and Franco.

"Together with the Nigerian government, today I authorised it to go ahead, with UK support.

[size=16pt]
Italian President Slams UK Over Rescue Bid[/size]

Italy's president has criticised Britain's "inexplicable behaviour" after the UK launched a failed operation to free two hostages in Nigeria without telling Rome beforehand.

Giorgio Napolitano is demanding a political and diplomatic explanation following the Special Forces rescue mission in which British engineer Christopher McManus and his Italian colleague Franco Lamolinara were killed .

Britain's Ambassador in Rome, Christopher Prentice, visited the office of Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti on Friday.

In a statement, the British Embassy said: "Our collaboration with the foreign ministry and the office of Prime Minister Monti is continuing, with further meetings and talks scheduled at the request of Ambassador Prentice."

Sky sources earlier said Mr Prentice had not been "summoned", but went of his own free will to the Italians. But late on Friday reports said Rome was demanding Britain communicates further details on the failed rescue bid in the coming hours.

Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata said after talks with Foreign Secretary William Hague: "I asked for detailed information because we have a right to maximum clarity on this episode."

David Cameron had given the order for the operation in the city of Sokoto in northern Nigeria to go ahead without informing the Italians first. The Prime Minister said: "We had reason to believe that their (the hostages) lives were under imminent and growing danger."

There is now a diplomatic row between the countries, with Italian officials furious at apparently being kept in the dark by Downing Street.