Taliban Prisoners Exchanged for Reporter

[Rose Siding]

Source: AP

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Italy's deputy foreign affairs minister confirmed Wednesday that the Afghan government released five Taliban prisoners to win the freedom of a reporter who had been kidnapped in lawless Helmand province.

Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who writes for Italy's La Repubblica newspaper, was freed Monday after two weeks in captivity. He had been seized in southern Helmand province with his Afghan driver, who was beheaded, and his translator, whose whereabouts are unknown.
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In Washington, a senior State Department official....speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to address the media, said U.S. diplomats told Italian counterparts in Rome and Washington that the trade raised serious safety concerns and increased the risk of kidnappings in Afghanistan.

Among other issues, the official said five Taliban operatives were now free to resume extremist activities and that their release could encourage further abductions. The official also denied Italian claims that the U.S. had been consulted about the conditions of the journalist's release.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Afghan-Italian-Journalist.html