KABUL, Afghanistan, May 27 (UPI) -- The Afghan government has accused the Italian Embassy in Kabul of "meddling" in its efforts to free an Italian aid worker kidnapped last week.
Lutfullah Mashal, a spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, said the Italian Embassy had made contact with the alleged kidnappers, the BBC reported. He insisted that all such contacts should be made through one channel, the Afghan channel.
Clementina Cantoni was kidnapped in Kabul one week ago when armed men dragged her from her car. Officials have spoken to Cantoni and believe that she is fine. The kidnappers have made no demands at this point.
Mashal said that making contact with the kidnappers without informing the Afghan authorities would not help the negotiations or the safe release of the 32-year-old worker for Care International.
A taskforce has been formed to collect and share information with the international community, comprising NATO-led peacekeepers, coalition forces, the Italian Embassy, other Afghan security agencies, the United Nations and Care International.
According to the Web page of the Italian Ministry of External Affairs, the government denied any problem and said it was completely united with the Afghan government in this matter.
