Afghanistan Releases Mother of Alleged Kidnapper

Police in Afghanistan have arrested eight people in connection with the kidnapping of a freed Italian aid worker, amid speculation that her release was secured through concessions made to her captors.

Afghan officials say the people were arrested prior to aid worker Clementina Cantoni's release on Thursday. She returned home Friday, more than three weeks after being abducted at gunpoint in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.

Authorities also released from custody the mother of the aid worker's suspected kidnapper, Timor Shah. But officials said the release of the mother, along with three other people, was not part of a concession deal to secure the aid worker's release.

Officials say the mother had been detained for questioning after a previous kidnapping.

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