Kidnapped Turkish Engineer Killed In Afghanistan

15 December 2004 -- Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Lutfullah Mashal told the French AFP news agency today that a Turkish engineer taken hostage in Afghanistan was killed by kidnappers after a failed police rescue operation.

Mashal said the victim, who was abducted yesterday, died as police closed in on the hostage takers.

Mashal said that after security forces cornered the kidnappers, they released the driver and interpreter "but killed Mohammad Ayub, the Turkish engineer."

He said no arrests have been made.

(AFP/AP)