Taliban threaten to kill Italian journalist-report

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

KABUL, Mar 11 (Reuters) A senior Taliban commander has threatened to kill an Italian reporter accused of spying if the Italian government does not meet the group's demands, a Pakistan-based news agency reported.

In return for the release of La Repubblica journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, the Taliban have demanded the withdrawal of Italian troops from Afghanistan and the release of three Taliban spokesmen.

Mullah Dadullah, a Taliban commander whose fighters are believed to be holding the Italian, said they would kill Mastrogiacomo if the demands were not met by Friday.

''If our demands aren't met, we'll slaughter the journalist on the seventh day from today,'' Dadullah told private Afghan Islamic Press yesterday.

The Taliban earlier said they would release Mastrogiacomo, held tomorrow on charges of spying for British troops, if he proved his innocence.

But a Taliban spokesman later said they had changed their mind after Italian lower house of parliament on Thursday voted in favour of keeping 1,900 Italian troops in Afghanistan.

The Taliban often execute Afghans they accuse of spying, hanging or shooting them in the head or slitting their throats.

The Italian government has called on the kidnappers to provide evidence that Mastrogiacomo is alive before any talks for his release can start.

Mastrogiacomo was picked up in the lawless southern province of Helmand tomorrow along with two Afghan colleagues. The Taliban said he had confessed to spying for British troops.

La Repubblica denied the reporter was a spy and said the Karachi-born man had been writing for them since 1980 and had been reporting from Afghanistan since Feb. 28.

Italian journalist Gabriele Torsello was kidnapped in Helmand in October and held for three weeks before being released unharmed.

A crew working for al Jazeera television -- three Afghans and a Briton -- were held overnight last month while travelling from neighbouring Kandahar to Helmand.

REUTERS SB PM1349

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X