This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7009244.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Italians 'seized in Afghanistan' Italians 'seized in Afghanistan'
(about 5 hours later)
Italian authorities say they believe that two missing soldiers serving in western Afghanistan have been abducted.Italian authorities say they believe that two missing soldiers serving in western Afghanistan have been abducted.
"We believe they have been kidnapped together with two Afghans," the defence ministry said in a statement, adding that a search was under way."We believe they have been kidnapped together with two Afghans," the defence ministry said in a statement, adding that a search was under way.
Contact was lost after the men crossed a police checkpoint in Herat province.Contact was lost after the men crossed a police checkpoint in Herat province.
In March, Afghan President Hamid Karzai was criticised for making a deal with the Taleban to free kidnapped Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo. An Afghan driver and interpreter were with the soldiers at the time but have since returned to Herat city and are to be questioned by police, reports say.
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 contact was lost, said Gen Ali Khan Hassanzada, chief of police criminal investigations in western Afghanistan.
Investigation launched
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 Italian defence ministry said the military personnel were "carrying out liaison activities with local civilian authorities".The Italian defence ministry said the military personnel were "carrying out liaison activities with local civilian authorities".
There is some speculation that the Italians were intelligence officials but this has not been confirmed, the BBC's Charles Haviland reports from Kabul.
Increased insurgency
An Italian embassy official in Kabul said the two men last spoke with officials at their base late on Saturday during "routine contact".An Italian embassy official in Kabul said the two men last spoke with officials at their base late on Saturday during "routine contact".
Officials in Rome said the families of the men had been notified.Officials in Rome said the families of the men had been notified.
Western Afghanistan is a relatively safe area, says the BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul. Western Afghanistan is a relatively safe area, our correspondent says.
But Shindand district has become more volatile as it borders a province where the militant insurgency has been on the rise, our correspondent adds. But Shindand district has become more volatile as it borders a province where the militant insurgency has been on the rise, he adds.
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.
Italy has more than 2,000 troops in Afghanistan, many of them based in the west.