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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Italians missing in Afghanistan | Italians missing in Afghanistan |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Italian authorities say they have lost contact with two of their soldiers serving in western Afghanistan. | Italian authorities say they have lost contact with two of their soldiers serving in western Afghanistan. |
| In a statement carried by Italian news agency Ansa, the defence ministry said contact had been "interrupted for several hours", and they were missing. | In a statement carried by Italian news agency Ansa, the defence ministry said contact had been "interrupted for several hours", and they were missing. |
| Earlier reports, later corrected, had said the two were journalists. | Earlier reports, later corrected, had said the two were journalists. |
| In March, Afghan President Hamid Karzai was criticised for making a deal with the Taleban to free kidnapped Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo. | In March, Afghan President Hamid Karzai was criticised for making a deal with the Taleban to free kidnapped Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo. |
| The two Italian soldiers were believed to be in the company of their Afghan driver and translator, according to Afghan officials. | The two Italian soldiers were believed to be in the company of their Afghan driver and translator, according to Afghan officials. |
| The four had driven through a police checkpoint in the Shindand district of Herat province on Saturday before all contacts were lost, said Gen Ali Khan Hassanzada, chief of police criminal investigations in western Afghanistan. | The four had driven through a police checkpoint in the Shindand district of Herat province on Saturday before all contacts were lost, said Gen Ali Khan Hassanzada, chief of police criminal investigations in western Afghanistan. |
| "We have launched an investigation in the area," Gen Hassanzada said. | |
| The Italian defence ministry said it had notified their families. | The Italian defence ministry said it had notified their families. |
| Western Afghanistan is a relatively safe area, says the BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul. | |
| But Shindand district has become more volatile as it borders a province where the militant insurgency has been on the rise, our correspondent adds. |