Maoists extend talks over Italian hostages

DARINGBADI, India, March 20 (UPI) -- Maoist rebels holding two Italian tourists hostage in eastern India say they've extended the deadline for local officials to meet their demands.

Paulo Bosusco, 54, and Claudio Colangelo, 61, were kidnapped Sunday while hiking near the tourist hill station of Daringbadi in Orissa's Kandhamal district.

The rebels, who have been fighting Indian authorities for decades in an attempt to create a communist state, extended Monday's deadline by one day as they negotiate the release of the tourists. They're calling for the release of three Maoist leaders and the end of an offensive against the rebels.

Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said his counterpart in India has promised to do everything possible to resolve the situation.

The BBC said the Maoists issued a statement claiming the tourists were taken prisoner because they had been photographing women.