Afghan police had no word today on the fate of an Italian hostage after the deadline passed in the purported kidnapper’s threat to kill her unless his demands were met – but a senior officer said authorities did not believe the ultimatum was serious.

A MAN claiming to have kidnapped an Italian aid worker in the Afghan capital threatened yesterday in an interview on local television to kill her unless his demands were immediately met.

A man claiming to have kidnapped an Italian aid worker in the Afghan capital threatened today in an interview on local television to kill her unless his demands were immediately met.

ITALY’S foreign minister said yesterday that a hostage in Afghanistan is all right and that contact had been initiated by her kidnappers.

Italy’s foreign minister said today that an Italian hostage in Afghanistan is all right, and that contact had been initiated by her kidnappers.

A group of “thieves” has claimed responsibility for kidnapping an Italian relief worker from her car in the Afghan capital Kabul, a senior police official said today.