Italian aid worker's kidnapper threatens to kill

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.

The man, who called himself Temur Shah, has also had negotiations with aid group CARE International – the employer of hostage Clementina Cantoni – said CARE’s Afghanistan director, Paul Barker.

“The guy, if he is who we think he is, has blood on his hand from previous incidents,” Barker said. “It’s very ugly, what kinds of threats he makes.” He declined to elaborate.

Cantoni herself did not speak during the interview, and Shah did not give any proof that she was in his captivity.

On the private television station Afghan Tolo, Shah threatened to kill Cantoni, 32, if three demands were not agree to by tonight.

“If our demands are not accepted ... we will show our reaction and finish her,” he said.

He demanded that the government set up more Islamic boarding schools in Afghanistan, that authorities provide ”alternative livelihoods” for farmers who are being forced to stop growing opium, and that independent radio station Arman stop broadcasting a programme about young people’s social issues. He did not say why he opposed the show.

Shah also said Cantoni’s health was “very critical,” adding that she had internal bleeding, was vomiting and had not eaten in three days. He said she hurt her head during her abduction, when four men dragged her from her car in Kabul on Monday night.

Barker said the demands made in the interview were different from others Shah had made previously. Those demands included more Islamic education in schools, the eradication of opium farming and a halt to the sale of alcohol, Barker said.

He said it wasn’t clear whether Shah was sincere about the demands.

“There is reason for hope, but also reason for alarm. I tend to err on the hopeful side, but you just don’t know,” Barker said.

Cantoni has been in Afghanistan since 2002, and was working for CARE International on a project helping Afghan widows and their families.

Her kidnapping was the latest in a series of attacks targeting foreigners in Kabul, reinforcing fears that militants or criminals here are copying tactics used in Iraq.

The Afghan government did not immediately comment on Shah’s demands, or say whether they thought he was the kidnapper.

Authorities have said they suspect Cantoni was kidnapped by the same criminal gang accused of abducting three UN workers last year.

Two of the gang’s leaders, known as Tilagai and Omarakhan, were arrested separately last month. Security officials have repeatedly warned that supporters of the two leaders may kidnap foreigners to try forcing their release.

The three abducted UN officials – one each from the Philippines, Northern Ireland and Kosovo – were released after being held for nearly a month.

Cantoni’s plight has caused anguish across Italy.

The Italian government said yesterday that contact had been made with the kidnappers and that the hostage was unhurt.

In Kabul, about 100 widows who benefited from Cantoni’s work held a tearful rally on yesterday and today, clutching pictures of Cantoni and banners demanding her freedom.