TUESDAY
[ 20.03.2007 - 11:54 ]
Kabul Confirms Prisoner Swap For Italian Hostage
March 20, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Afghanistan's government today confirmed that it freed Taliban prisoners in exchange for a kidnapped Italian journalist, RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan reported.
Karim Rahimi, a spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, said the exchange was an "exceptional measure" that would not be repeated. Rahimi did not say how many Taliban prisoners were exchanged for Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo. Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah has said the trade involved five Taliban fighters.Rahimi also confirmed that Mastrogiacomo's Afghan driver was beheaded by the Taliban. He said the fate of Mastrogiacomo's Afghan translator remains unclear.Earlier today, residents of Helmand Province demonstrated against the reported exchange of Taliban fighters for a foreigner. The protesters included Hamayun, the brother of Mastrogiacomo's driver. "We have gathered here because the Italian journalist has been released," Hamayun told RFE/RL. "But his two [Afghan] colleagues have not. We don't know whether [the Italian journalist] is a Muslim or if the other two are. But this infidel was exchanged with some people and was released. But the others have disappeared."Mastrogiacomo, a Pakistani-born reporter for Italy's "La Repubblica" newspaper, was expected to be sent back to Rome as early as today.
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