ROME, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- An Italian aid worker was kidnapped inthe Philippines early Tuesday by armed gunmen who demanded a ransom, Italian media reported here.

    The man was identified as Andrea Cianferoni, who works for Movimondo, an Italian non-government organization helping communities in conflict areas.

    Cianferone was kidnapped on the Philippines' main southern island of Mindanao, the center of a bloody Islamist separatist revolt.

    Movimondo director Vincenzo Pira said local and Italian authorities were making diplomatic efforts to resolve the affair.

    The Italian embassy in Manila had taken all necessary measures with local authorities to achieve a positive resolution on the affair, the Italian Foreign Ministry said.

    Rome mayor Walter Veltroni, a prominent advocator of aid to Africa and other countries, urged all institutions to work as hardas possible to save Cianferoni. Enditem