Taliban say have released Italian journalist

[maddezmom]

Taliban say have released Italian journalist
18 Mar 2007 09:17:00 GMT

KANDAHAR, March 18 (Reuters) - The Taliban said on Sunday they had released an Italian journalist held for spying, along with his Afghan translator.

Karachi-born La Repubblica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo was released after Afghan authorities freed two Taliban officials, rebel spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf told Reuters 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," Yousuf said.

A provincial official said two Taliban were released late Saturday night. They were spokesman Latif Hakimi and a leader known as Ustad Yasar, Yousuf said. The pair were arrested in Pakistan in 2005 and later handed to Kabul.

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL313514.htm

Italy says doesn't consider Taliban hostage freed
18 Mar 2007 09:46:20 GMT
ROME, March 18 (Reuters) - Italy's government still has no reason to believe that Italian reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo has been freed, a government spokesman told Reuters.

The Taliban who had been holding Mastrogiacomo said earlier on Sunday they had released Mastrogiacomo to a third party.

"We have seen reports that he has been handed over to a third party of tribal chiefs. That is not a liberation," the government spokeman told Reuters.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L18295561.htm

[Eugene]

1. Reuters: Italian journalist freed in Afghanistan

Italian journalist freed in Afghanistan
19 Mar 2007 14:56:54 GMT
Source: Reuters

KANDAHAR, March 19 (Reuters) - An Italian journalist kidnapped
in Afghanistan was handed over to Italian officials on Monday
after two weeks in captivity and days after his driver was
executed.

Taliban military commander Mullah Dadullah and the Italian Foreign
Ministry said Karachi-born La Repubblica reporter Daniele
Mastrogiacomo had been freed. Details were sketchy.

Afghanistan's private Pajhwok news agency said Mastrogiacomo
had been handed to "Italian officials" in southern Helmand province,
where NATO last month launched a major offensive.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19588250.htm

(BBC News)

Last Updated: Monday, 19 March 2007, 14:57 GMT

Taleban free Italian journalist

An Italian journalist kidnapped in Afghanistan by the Taleban has
been freed, Italy's foreign ministry says.

Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who works for La Repubblica, was held for
two weeks. Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said he was in good
health in hospital.


-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6467273.stm