ROME, Sept. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- A group in Iraq that has claimed kidnapping two Italian female aid workers this week gave Italy 24 hours to meet its demands, local media reported Friday.

    The report said that in a message posted on an Islamic website, the Ansar el Zawahri group demanded the unconditional release of Muslim prisoners from Iraqi jails.

    If this does not take place, the group warned, "the Italian people will know nothing of the fate of the Italian hostages." ¡¡

    "We believe that the Italian government fully understands the situation and knows that our word is like a sword... When we make a threat were carry it out," the message added.

    Experts have not yet ascertained the authenticity of the message but well informed sources said it was being taken seriously.

    In its message, Ansar el Zawahri said that "the crusading, Zionist, criminal Italian government must free faithful Muslim prisoners from all crusading, Zionist, criminal jails on Iraqi territory."

    Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, both 29, were seized Tuesday from the Baghdad office of an Italian aid organization called A Bridge to Baghdad. Two Iraqi workers were also kidnapped.

    In a message posted on the same website by the group, which claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, had said Pari and Torretta would not be released "even if Italy goes down on its knees." Enditem