Taliban free 4 kidnapped ICRC staff-spokesman

KABUL, Sept 29 (Reuters) Four staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) kidnapped by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan three days ago were freed today, a Taliban spokesman said.

''The four employees of the ICRC who were kidnapped by the Taliban because of some suspicions have been released just now,'' the spokesman told Reuters by telephone from an unknown location.

The four men, including two expatriates, had been seized by Taliban on Wednesday.

''Our mujahideen detained the Red Cross workers in Wardak province without knowing they were ICRC staff,'' a Taliban spokesman said at the time. ''We have nothing against the Red Cross and we are going to release them soon.'' Taliban have kidnapped dozens of Afghans and foreigners in recent months as part of their campaign to create an atmosphere of insecurity, and undermine the government and its Western backers.

REUTERS SYU KN1944