Threats to kill Cantoni

2005-05-18 16:46

Kabul - A man claiming to have kidnapped an Italian aid worker in the Afghan capital, threatened on Wednesday 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.

He declined to elaborate on the threats.

On the private Afghan Tolo television station, Shah threatened to kill Cantoni, 32, if the government did not agree to three demands by Wednesday night.

"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.

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

The Italian government said on Tuesday 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 Tuesday and Wednesday, clutching pictures of Cantoni and banners demanding her freedom.

- AP