The kidnappers of an Italian photojournalist in Afghanistan say he is in good health

Italian photographer Gabriele Torsello, February 2006, in London

after the deadline for their demands expired Sunday night.

The Italian aid group Emergency said Monday the kidnappers contacted its staff in an Italian-run hospital in southern Helmand province.

Italian photographer Gabriele Torsello and his interpreter disappeared between October 12 and 14. They were traveling from the Helmand provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, to neighboring Kandahar.

The abductors demanded a withdrawal of Italian forces from Afghanistan by the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ended Sunday evening in that country.

Torsello's abductors have been in contact with the Emergency group since the abduction. They said earlier they would kill him if their demands were not met.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.