Thursday, February 16, 2012

Afghanistan

Taliban Urge Italian Troop Pullout To Free Reporter

The Taliban kidnapped Daniele Mastrogiacomo on March 3 (file photo) (epa)

March 10, 2007 -- The Taliban has called for the withdrawal of Italian troops from Afghanistan to pave the way for the release of an Italian reporter they are holding on charges of spying.

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March 10, 2007

The Taliban said on March 9 they would free Daniele Mastrogiacomo of the newspaper "La Repubblica" if he could prove he was not a spy.

But a Taliban spokesman, Mullah Hayatullah Khan, said the Taliban changed their mind after Italy's lower house of parliament voted in favor of keeping Italian troops in Afghanistan.

Separately, a Taliban commander, Mullah Dadullah, told AFP news agency that the militia had set a seven-day deadline for Italy to set a date for withdrawal.

The Italian lower house of parliament on March 8 voted to keep on 1,900 Italian troops. However, the extension still has to be approved by the upper house, the Senate, later this month.

Prime Minister Romano Prodi's government has a very narrow majority in the Senate.

(Reuters, AFP)

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