U.S. rules out deals with Afghan kidnappers
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-10 15:35

A senior U.S. official said on Wednesday deals should not be done with hostage-takers ahead of the latest deadline set by Afghan Islamic militants who have threatened to kill three kidnapped U.N. workers.

The militants have demanded the release of 26 Taliban prisoners, some of whom may be in U.S. custody, for the release of U.N. workers Annetta Flanigan from Northern Ireland, Shqipe Hebibi from Kosovo and Filipino diplomat Angelito Nayan.

But visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage appeared to rule out any prisoners being released from U.S. custody to meet kidnappers' demands.

Filipino students light candles in front of the portrait of Angelito Nayan, who is held by militants in Afghanistan together with two other foreign U.N. workers, during a prayer vigil for his safe release in Las Pinas, south of Manila, November 9, 2004. Afghan kidnappers threatened to kill one of three captives if demands are not met by 0530 EST on November 9, 12 days after the U.N. workers, including Nayan, were abducted in Kabul. [Reuters]

"It is the United States' view that negotiating with hostage takers, compromising with hostage takers, only encourages more," Armitage told reporters.

The three U.N. workers were abducted in Kabul on Oct. 28 after helping to run presidential polls won by U.S.-backed incumbent Hamid Karzai.

A Taliban splinter faction, the Jaish-e Muslimeen (Army of Muslims), says it is holding them.

The group has threatened to kill the three and several deadlines for the release of the militants' 26 imprisoned comrades have passed.

The latest was set for 11 a.m. (0130 EST) on Wednesday.

The militants say they have been negotiating through intermediaries with Afghan government and U.N. officials but authorities have declined to comment.

Armitage also declined to comment on efforts to free the U.N. workers.

"These matters have to be handled very delicately," he said.

One of several men claiming to speak for the militants, Mullah Sabir Momin, has said the woman from Kosovo, Hebibi, would be killed first and her "beheading" shown on video.

Momin said Hebibi seemed the most important hostage. "She says she is a Muslim. If a Muslim helps infidels or America, that Muslim will be punished first."

The fate of the other two would depend on the response of the government and United Nations, he said.

The kidnappers have said all three were suffering from the bitter cold and poor food, but two of the hostages were allowed to phone home on Monday and said they were being well treated.

The government has expressed hope for the release of the hostages but it has also indicated it was unwilling to meet the kidnappers' demands.

In an interview with CNN, President Hamid Karzai said on Tuesday the government was working hard to secure the trio's release, adding: "Let's hope they will be free very soon."

"We are working on it on a minute-to-minute basis, day and night," he said.

The Taliban, forced from power by U.S.-led forces in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, had vowed, but failed, to disrupt to Oct. 9 presidential election.

The abductions have raised fears among the 2,000-strong Western community in Afghanistan that militants have begun copying tactics of insurgents in Iraq.

Taliban attacks have seriously disrupted aid and reconstruction work, especially in the south and east of the country, and some aid groups have pulled out of Afghanistan because of worry over security.

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