AFGHANISTAN:The Taliban said yesterday they had handed a kidnapped Italian journalist to tribal leaders, but threatened to recapture him unless the Afghan government met all their demands
Italy responded by saying that all conditions set by the abductors had been met, but added that the crisis was now in an "extremely delicate phase".
La Repubblicareporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo and two Afghan colleagues were seized two weeks ago in the lawless southern province of Helmand, where Nato and Afghan forces have launched a major offensive.
The Taliban, who said the reporter had confessed to spying for British troops, on Saturday extended a deadline to kill him if their full demands were not met by three days to today. Mastrogiacomo and his Afghan translator were handed over to tribal elders after Kabul freed two Taliban officials, rebel spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf said by satellite phone from a secret location. "We handed over the two to a third party after we got two of the three people we wanted to be freed," Mr Yousuf said, without giving details of where the reporter and his Afghan translator had been moved.
A provincial official said two Taliban were released late on Saturday night. Mr Yousuf said the pair were spokesman Latif Hakimi and a leader known as Ustad Yasar.
Mr Yousuf said the rebels wanted the third person released as well before Mastrogiacomo could be freed. The Taliban said they would take back the journalist and his colleague if that demand was not met.
Some media reports said Mastrogiacomo's driver was executed on Thursday, prompting Italy to say it was redoubling efforts to secure the reporter's release. - (Reuters)