Afghanistan's foreign minister said on Thursday his government was in contact with the kidnappers of an Italian hostage, and he suggested she was safe. Abdullah Abdullah's comments came as a deadline set by the purported kidnapper passed. The kidnapper had threatened to kill hostage Clementina Cantoni unless his demands were met. "They are aware of the safety of the kidnapped," Abdullah told reporters in Tokyo, where he is on a three-day visit. "But I have no further information."
