Afghan Officials Say Kidnapped Italian Aid Worker is Well

Afghan officials say a kidnapped Italian aid worker is in good health and that her abductors have opened a channel of communication with authorities.

Officials say they have spoken with the CARE International worker Clementina Cantoni, who was seized from her car in Kabul by four gunmen on Monday.

Italian embassy officials in Kabul confirmed that contact has been established with alleged abductors, but declined to provide details.

Earlier, Afghan police said a criminal gang kidnapped the woman and wanted to exchange her for its jailed leader and several accomplices.

Tuesday, about 200 Afghan widows, who have received help from the aid worker, staged a tearful demonstration, demanding her immediate release.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.