German journalist kidnapped in Afghan east-officials

ASADABAD, Afghanistan, July 25 (Reuters) A German journalist and his Afghan translator have been kidnapped in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar, provincial officials said today.

The pair were trying to reach a village where civilians were killed in a NATO air strike some two weeks back, provincial spokesman Shah Wasi Mangal said.

''The pair were abducted in Saangar district of Kunar by the enemies of Afghanistan,'' Mangal said.

Another provincial official, who declined to be named, said: ''The pair were kidnapped from a house en route to the village.'' Afghanistan has seen a wave of kidnappings in the last week.

Taliban rebels are holding 23 South Korean Christians in Ghazni province, south of the capital Kabul.

Two German engineers were seized a week ago and one subsequently died, apparently killed by his Taliban captors.

REUTERS NC RAI1356