Kidnapped Colombian released in Afghanistan

KABUL, Sep 29 (Reuters) A Colombian aid worker and two Afghan colleagues kidnapped in Afghanistan nearly three weeks ago were released unconditionally today, their aid group said.

The Colombian, his Afghan assistant and their driver were kidnapped near Kabul on September. 9. All three were in good health, the French-based Madera aid group said.

The group gave no more details of the release nor did it say who was believed responsible for the kidnapping.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe came under fire from critics and families of kidnap victims in Colombia last week over his handling of the case of the kidnapped aid worker, Diego Rojas Coronel.

Kidnapping is far less common in Afghanistan than it is in Iraq, but both Taliban insurgents and criminal gangs have abducted foreigners. Some victims have been killed, some released, apparently after ransoms were paid.

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