AFGHANISTAN: An Islamist group that claims responsibility for kidnapping three foreigners, including a woman from Co Armagh, in Afghanistan said yesterday it would execute the hostages unless authorities called off their manhunt for the kidnappers.
The abduction on Thursday of the three victims - Ms Annetta Flanigan from Richhill, Co Armagh, a Kosovan woman and Filipino who were working for the UN to help run the country's first presidential election - has sparked fears that anti-US militants may be copying bloody tactics used by insurgents in Iraq.
Afghan security sources said yesterday that three suspects had been detained in connection with the kidnapping and a vehicle believed to have been used to snatch the trio was found, but there was no word on the fate of the hostages.
The suspects, wearing military uniforms, were picked up north of Kabul in the same area where authorities seized a black four-wheel-drive pick-up truck with defence ministry number plates that fit descriptions of the vehicle used in Thursday's kidnapping.
It was the first kidnapping of foreigners in Kabul. The three abducted workers had been helping organise Afghanistan's first direct presidential election on October 9th. The group that claimed responsibility for their abduction warned authorities yesterday to halt the manhunt for the perpetrators and the hostages or else they would be killed.
"We demand the search is stopped," said Akbar Agha, of the Jaish-e-Muslimeen (Army of Muslims), a breakaway Taliban faction.
"If the US and Afghan forces find our Mujahideen (holy warriors) during operations, we will kill them," he said. The group did not make any demands for the release of the hostages and offered no proof to verify its claims.
Carl O'Brien adds: Many UN and aid agency staff in Kabul have been instructed to remain in offices and residential compounds following the kidnappings. The abductions have forced aid groups to take fresh precautions.
Irish aid agencies have workers in Kabul, where there are an estimated 3,000 foreign civilians and aid workers.
Trócaire's representative Mr Mark Montgomery who is based in the capital, said there were no plans to leave the country.
"There is a great deal of concern, especially given that it's the first specific abduction of aid workers. It happened within the city limits, in a busy area at lunchtime, so it reached to the heart of a lot of people's fears," the Dublin-born aid worker said.
"If this turns into a longer term trend, it would be very worrying. There are large number of aid workers here and it puts a very different perspective on security issues. We really don't know who or what we're dealing with.
"We are committed to Afghanistan I don't think any of us were under any delusions about the security threat here.
"Nation-building is a long-term process and organisations like Trócaire are committed to Afghanistan for the long-term."
Commenting on the kidnappings, the Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, said last night: "At this time of great worry and concern for the Flanigan family I urge everyone to pray for the safe release of Annetta and her colleagues.
"While the privacy of their home should be respected at this time, I would want them to know of the prayers and support of a host of people.
"I pray that they will all be strengthened and upheld by God's love and presence in their anxiety and time of waiting for news," he said.