Aid worker released from Afghan jail

ROME, June 19 (Reuters) An Afghan employee of Italian aid agency Emergency was released from jail in Afghanistan today after being held for three months following accusations he had connections to the Taliban, Emergency said.

Italy's Foreign Ministry hailed the announcement, saying it had been working quietly for months to encourage the release of Ramahtullah Hanafi, who worked at one of the charity's hospitals.

Italy's government had relied on Emergency, including Hanafi, to act as a go-between with the Taliban in March to help secure the release of a kidnapped Italian journalist.

As part of the deal, Kabul, acting on Rome's behalf, freed five jailed Taliban in exchange for the reporter. The prisoner swap sparked sharp criticism from the United States and Britain.

''There's a big sigh of relief,'' Deputy Foreign Minister Ugo Intini said, according to ANSA news agency. Intini added that Hanafi's release had seemed far from certain just a week ago.

The Afghan head of security services had accused Hanafi, who ran one of Emergency's Afghan hospitals, of having connections with the Taliban and al Qaeda. Those accusations were later dropped, Italian media reporters said.

REUTERS PY RAI2146