Germana Cantoni, mother of Italian aid worker Clementina Cantoni, kidnapped in Afghanistan three days ago, arrives at her daughter's house in Milan. A man claiming to have abducted Clementina threatened to kill her unless his demands were met.(AFP photo)

BEIJING, May 20 -- Afghanistan's foreign minister says that the Italian hostage kidnapped in the Afghan capital, Kabul, early this week "is safe".

    He said so during his a three day visit to Japan.

    "Unfortunately I don't have information on that, but I know in general that there has been a contact and hopefully the lady will stay safe, I know that she is safe, and she will stay safe, and she will be released," said the Foreign Minister.

    CARE International worker Clementina Cantoni was abducted by four men on Monday evening.

    A man who claimed to have kidnapped the 32-year-old relief worker threaten to kill her unless his demands were met by Wednesday evening.

    Cantoni, 32, 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.

    Authorities have said they suspect Cantoni was kidnapped by the same criminal gang accused of abducting three UN workers last year, before releasing them after nearly a month.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)