Taliban group vows to kill hostage if demands not met

KABUL – A Taliban splinter group holding three UN workers hostage demanded a response to its demands from the Afghan government and United Nations by yesterday afternoon, saying it would kill one captive if they were not met.

But the government indicated it was unwilling to meet yesterday’s deadline set by the Jaish-e Muslimeen (Army of Muslims) for a response to its demand for the freeing of 26 Taliban prisoners. “The government is supposed to respond by 3:00 pm,” Sayed Yar Muhammad Agha, one of several men claiming to speak for the kidnap group told Reuters.”The decision to kill the hostages – which one first – will be taken by our Shura (council),” he said.”If our demands are not met, we will kill at least one hostage.”UN workers Annetta Flanigan from Northern Ireland, Shqipe Hebibi from Kosovo and Filipino diplomat Angelito Nayan, who helped run Oct.9 presidential polls won by US-backed incumbent Hamid Karzai, were abducted in Kabul on Oct 28.Jaish-e Muslimeen has demanded the release of the 26 Taliban members, some of whom could be in US military custody, as part of a deal to free them.Asked it the demand would be met, Defence Ministry spokesman Zaher Azimi said: “We know about their ultimatum and our response is that we hope they free the hostages on the basis of the decree of the Ulema and appeals from Afghans and the international community.”- Nampa-Reuters”The government is supposed to respond by 3:00 pm,” Sayed Yar Muhammad Agha, one of several men claiming to speak for the kidnap group told Reuters.”The decision to kill the hostages – which one first – will be taken by our Shura (council),” he said.”If our demands are not met, we will kill at least one hostage.”UN workers Annetta Flanigan from Northern Ireland, Shqipe Hebibi from Kosovo and Filipino diplomat Angelito Nayan, who helped run Oct.9 presidential polls won by US-backed incumbent Hamid Karzai, were abducted in Kabul on Oct 28.Jaish-e Muslimeen has demanded the release of the 26 Taliban members, some of whom could be in US military custody, as part of a deal to free them.Asked it the demand would be met, Defence Ministry spokesman Zaher Azimi said: “We know about their ultimatum and our response is that we hope they free the hostages on the basis of the decree of the Ulema and appeals from Afghans and the international community.”- Nampa-Reuters