Ransom Demands And The Countries Who Pay Up

Britain and the US have stated that they do not pay ransoms for hostages, but extremist groups rely on countries which do as a source of income.

European nations, including France and Italy, are believed to have paid large sums for the safe release of kidnapped citizens.

The money is most commonly paid through a network of proxies in contact with extremist organisations, often disguised as development aid for a particular country.

A New York Times investigation last year found that al Qaeda and its affiliates have made at least $125m (£83m) from kidnappings since 2008 - including $66m (£44m) in 2013.

The US and UK insist that paying ransoms increases the likelihood that citizens will be taken hostage in future.

Greta Remelli, left, and Vanessa Marzullo were freed last week

:: Italy - aid workers Greta Ramelli, 21, and Vanessa Marzullo, 20, were kidnapped on 31 July, 2014, in Syria.

Their release last week sparked speculation in Italy that the government had paid €15m (£11.5m) in ransom, although foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni denied the reports and told the Italian Parliament: "We are against paying ransom".

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Italy is also believed to have paid $2m (£1.3m) to the Taliban in 2006 to release a kidnapped photographer in Afghanistan.

:: France - reportedly paid for four journalists - Nicolas Henin, Pierre Torres, Edouard Elias and Didier Francois to be released in Syria in 2014. Reports claimed the figure was $18m (£12m), but the French government denied it had paid a ransom.

:: Spain - paid £2m ransom to Somali pirates for the release of 36 crewmen on a Spanish trawler.

:: Austria - reportedly paid $3.2m (£2.1m) to al Qaeda for the release of two of its citizens in 2008.

:: Switzerland - $12.4m (£8.2m) reportedly paid to al Qaeda in 2009 for two Swiss hostages and one German.

:: Qatar - helped secure the release of US journalist Peter Curtis from al Qaeda.

:: Oman - has handed over more than $20m (£13.2m) to al Qaeda since 2013.

:: Israel - has often struck deals to secure the return of its citizens, including prisoner exchanges.

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