An Afghan criminal gang has demanded the release of its leaders from prison in return for the Italian aid worker it kidnapped yesterday, Kabul police said today.

Abdul Jamil, director of Kabul police’s criminal investigation department, said the gang was willing to release Clementina Cantoni 32, an Italian working for Care International, in exchange for their leader Tela Mohammed and several accomplices.

Mr Jalil said that the gang contacted police and claimed responsibility for the abduction Italian woman. He ruled out the involvement of Taleban or al-Qaeda militants.

Margaret Hassan, a British and Iraqi citizen who was abducted and murdered in Iraq late last year, also worked for Care.

Ms Cantoni was dragged from her car by armed men in the Qala-e-Mosa district of Kabul on Monday. Her driver, who managed to escape, was being questioned by police.

Afghan police last month arrested several members of Tela Mohmmed’s gang. The group has since launched several deadly but failed attempts to free its colleagues.

There has been a spate of attacks and kidnap attempts on foreigners in recent weeks in Kabul, leading to a tightening of security for the thousands of foreigners who work there.

Tela Mohamed and a lieutenant were believed to be involved in the kidnapping of three United Nations workers last October.

The gang, suspected to have links with Islamic militants, released their hostages a month later, but it was not known if any ransom was paid.

President Hamid Karzai was "disturbed and concerned" over the latest abduction, a spokesman said.

He stressed that the Afghan interior ministry had warned foreigners of possible incidents and advised them to be extra vigilant in some areas of Kabul. Police and the Nato-led peacekeepers have beefed up security and patrols.

Care International said that Ms Cantoni has been a humanitarian worker for ten years and had lived in Afghanistan since March 2002.

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