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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Karzai orders Taleban body swap | Karzai orders Taleban body swap |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Afghan government has agreed to hand over the body of Taleban commander Mullah Dadullah in exchange for the release of hostages, officials say. | The Afghan government has agreed to hand over the body of Taleban commander Mullah Dadullah in exchange for the release of hostages, officials say. |
| They say that President Karzai ordered the body to be swapped for five health workers kidnapped in Kandahar province. | They say that President Karzai ordered the body to be swapped for five health workers kidnapped in Kandahar province. |
| Mullah Dadullah's body will be handed over to a person nominated by his family to collect it, officials say. | Mullah Dadullah's body will be handed over to a person nominated by his family to collect it, officials say. |
| The Taleban commander, who was killed last month, was accused of a string of bombings, beheadings and kidnappings. | The Taleban commander, who was killed last month, was accused of a string of bombings, beheadings and kidnappings. |
| Beheadings | Beheadings |
| The five male kidnap victims - a doctor, three nurses and their driver - were abducted in Kandahar in March. | |
| Their captors at first demanded the release of Taleban prisoners, but instead agreed to exchange them for the body of Mullah Dadullah, officials say. | |
| It will take the Taleban time to recover from Dadullah's loss | It will take the Taleban time to recover from Dadullah's loss |
| "Yesterday it was agreed to," said Abdullah Fahim, a health ministry adviser, Reuters news agency reports. | |
| "It's their right to have the body of their relative," he added. | |
| The Taleban have said they will kill the hostages if the body of their former commander is not handed over. | |
| The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says the Taleban have not guaranteed to free any of the hostages even if the body is collected. | |
| Mullah Dadullah, who lost a leg fighting Soviet forces, is alleged to have orchestrated numerous Taleban suicide attacks and beheadings. | Mullah Dadullah, who lost a leg fighting Soviet forces, is alleged to have orchestrated numerous Taleban suicide attacks and beheadings. |
| He was killed in a US-led military operation in Helmand province and buried in an undisclosed location. | He was killed in a US-led military operation in Helmand province and buried in an undisclosed location. |
| "We hope that they will release our workers safe and secure," Mr Fahim said. "Now it is up to local authorities in Kandahar... to hand over the body [to the family]," he said. | "We hope that they will release our workers safe and secure," Mr Fahim said. "Now it is up to local authorities in Kandahar... to hand over the body [to the family]," he said. |
| Kidnap controversy | |
| Correspondents say it is not immediately clear when the swap will be made. | Correspondents say it is not immediately clear when the swap will be made. |
| In March there was outrage in Afghanistan and international condemnation of President Karzai after his government made a deal made with the Taleban to secure the release of a kidnapped Italian journalist, Daniele Mastrogiacomo. | In March there was outrage in Afghanistan and international condemnation of President Karzai after his government made a deal made with the Taleban to secure the release of a kidnapped Italian journalist, Daniele Mastrogiacomo. |
| The government's critics at home said it was too easily bowing to enemy demands, and that it was putting the plight of a foreigner above that of Afghans who were kidnapped along with the journalist. | The government's critics at home said it was too easily bowing to enemy demands, and that it was putting the plight of a foreigner above that of Afghans who were kidnapped along with the journalist. |
| In April, an Afghan journalist kidnapped with the Italian was killed by the Taleban. Their driver was beheaded in March. | In April, an Afghan journalist kidnapped with the Italian was killed by the Taleban. Their driver was beheaded in March. |
| The US and UK said that the release of five militants in exchange for Mr Mastrogiacomo endangered Nato troops and encouraged kidnappings. | The US and UK said that the release of five militants in exchange for Mr Mastrogiacomo endangered Nato troops and encouraged kidnappings. |