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Labourers abducted in Afghanistan | Labourers abducted in Afghanistan |
(about 14 hours later) | |
At least 140 civilian labourers have been abducted in south-west Afghanistan by suspected Taleban insurgents, local officials say. | At least 140 civilian labourers have been abducted in south-west Afghanistan by suspected Taleban insurgents, local officials say. |
Farah province governor Rohul Amin said the workers, who had been constructing army barracks, were seized from three buses on Sunday. | Farah province governor Rohul Amin said the workers, who had been constructing army barracks, were seized from three buses on Sunday. |
Mr Amin said negotiations were continuing to secure their release. | Mr Amin said negotiations were continuing to secure their release. |
Kidnappings are frequently carried out in Afghanistan but this would be the largest mass abduction so far. | Kidnappings are frequently carried out in Afghanistan but this would be the largest mass abduction so far. |
The workers and their drivers were kidnapped in the Bara Boluk area, close to the Iranian border, as they were travelling to Herat, said Mr Amin. | The workers and their drivers were kidnapped in the Bara Boluk area, close to the Iranian border, as they were travelling to Herat, said Mr Amin. |
"Negotiations are under way by elders to release the innocent workers. We want to solve this issue peacefully without involving the military," he said. | "Negotiations are under way by elders to release the innocent workers. We want to solve this issue peacefully without involving the military," he said. |
No one has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping but the Taleban are known to have been active in the area. | No one has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping but the Taleban are known to have been active in the area. |
Mr Amin told the BBC that he blamed the Taleban for the attack. | |
The BBC's Quil Lawrence in Kabul says the labourers were beginning their journeys home for the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan next week. |
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