Italian hostage in Algeria speaks in audio message

A pan-Arab satellite channel has broadcast a purported message from an Italian woman who was abducted by suspected Islamic militants in Algeria's remote southern desert.

Satellite channel Al-Arabiya is broadcasting the short audio message of the woman speaking in French.

The speaker identifies herself as Maria Sandra Mariani and says, "I am the Italian woman who was abducted on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, near Djanet in Algeria."

The message broadcast Friday says she is being held by Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM. The group is active in the area and has often abducted foreign tourists.

The Italian Foreign Ministry is not commenting directly on the message and says it will continue keeping its efforts in the case secret.