Afghan leader says no more deals on kidnap victims

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Friday ruled out any more deals with the Taliban to free foreigners or Afghans kidnapped by the insurgents.

He told a news conference at his fortified palace in Kabul that he came under pressure from Rome to approve the release of five rebels last month in return for the freedom of a kidnapped Italian journalist.

Since that deal, the Taliban have kidnapped two French aid workers and their three Afghan guides, and also hold the translator of the Italian reporter as well as five health ministry officials.

Karzai said he approved the deal for the Italian reporter after a request from Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070406/wl_nm/afghan_abductions_dc

[cal04]

1. Karzai Says He Has Met With Taliban

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said Friday he met with Taliban militants in attempts to bring peace to the country and urged supporters of the fundamentalist militia to lay down their weapons.

``We have had representatives from the Taliban meeting with different bodies of Afghan government for a long time,'' Karzai told a news conference in Kabul. ``I have had some Taliban coming to speak to me as well,'' he said.

Karzai did not disclose any details of these meetings, or indicate if they included talks with senior militant leaders.

(snip)

Karzai urged Afghan Taliban to lay down weapons and join his government, but ruled out any deals with foreign militants.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6537690,00.html

[Eugene]

2. self-delete

dupe of reply #1

[LynnTheDem]

3. "fortified palace in Kabul"

Afghanistan, george w. bush's "role model" for Iraq.

:rofl: