Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who was kidnapped by
Taliban militants about two weeks ago, was released along with his
interpreter in Helmand province of southern Afghanistan on Sunday
morning, the Taliban said.
The freed Italian journalist had been handed over to local
tribal elders, who are acting as mediators between the Italian
government and the Taliban, a Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told
reporters.
Ahamdi said that a Taliban leader, who were captured in 2005,
had been freed by Afghan authorities in exchange for the Italian
journalist.
The Taliban has been demanding the release of another detained
Taliban spokesman Mohammad Hanif, Ahmadi said, adding that a tribal
elders had promised they will persuade the government order to free
Hanif.
Mastrogiacomo, working for an Italian newspaper La
Repubblica, was kidnapped by the Taliban in Helmand on March 5
along with his driver and his interpreter.
The driver, who was accused of being a spy for foreign troops in
this country, was reportedly killed by Taliban militants some days
ago.
On Friday, the Taliban, who had accused Mastrogiacomo of being a
spy, extended the deadline of executing him unless demands were met
to Monday at the request of the Italian government.
About 2,000 Italian soldiers are being deployed in the country,
operating as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance
Force, which many believe had put the journalist's fate on
risk.
(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2007)
