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/south_asia/7216882.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Afghan women stage rare protest Afghan women stage rare protest
(40 minutes later)
Several hundred women have staged a rare demonstration in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar calling for the release of a kidnapped US aid worker.Several hundred women have staged a rare demonstration in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar calling for the release of a kidnapped US aid worker.
The woman aid worker, Cyd Mizell, and her Afghan driver were abducted on Saturday by unidentified gunmen.The woman aid worker, Cyd Mizell, and her Afghan driver were abducted on Saturday by unidentified gunmen.
A Taleban spokesman said he could neither confirm nor deny that his group carried out the abductions.A Taleban spokesman said he could neither confirm nor deny that his group carried out the abductions.
Kidnappings are common in Afghanistan, although the abduction of foreigners is quite rare.Kidnappings are common in Afghanistan, although the abduction of foreigners is quite rare.
Rallies by women are rare in Afghanistan, and all the more so in the conservative southern city of Kandahar where 49-year-old Ms Mizell and her driver Muhammad Hadi were kidnapped from a residential neighbourhood.Rallies by women are rare in Afghanistan, and all the more so in the conservative southern city of Kandahar where 49-year-old Ms Mizell and her driver Muhammad Hadi were kidnapped from a residential neighbourhood.
Some 500 to 600 women, many wearing the burqa, gathered in a wedding hall for prayers and speeches calling on government officials to work for the captives' release. Some 500 to 600 women, many wearing the burqa, gathered in a wedding hall on Tuesday for prayers and speeches calling on government officials to work for the captives' release.
'Very upset''Very upset'
The director of the Kandahar Women's Association Rona Tareen urged Ms Mizell's captors to free her at once, saying she had helped many local women find jobs and market their embroidery work.The director of the Kandahar Women's Association Rona Tareen urged Ms Mizell's captors to free her at once, saying she had helped many local women find jobs and market their embroidery work.
"Her kidnapping is against our culture and tradition. We demand the kidnappers free her immediately," she said."Her kidnapping is against our culture and tradition. We demand the kidnappers free her immediately," she said.
Protests by women are rare in AfghanistanProtests by women are rare in Afghanistan
Another woman Bibi Nanai told the Associated Press news agency that she had taken permission from her husband to join the protest.Another woman Bibi Nanai told the Associated Press news agency that she had taken permission from her husband to join the protest.
"I came from my home to show my support. We are very upset," she said."I came from my home to show my support. We are very upset," she said.
Ms Mizell works for the Asian Rural Life Development Foundation, a Philippines-based organisation.Ms Mizell works for the Asian Rural Life Development Foundation, a Philippines-based organisation.
The provincial governor said the authorities are still searching for clues in the case.The provincial governor said the authorities are still searching for clues in the case.
The international director of Cyd Mizell's NGO said she had been living in Kandahar for three years, teaching English and embroidery at local schools.The international director of Cyd Mizell's NGO said she had been living in Kandahar for three years, teaching English and embroidery at local schools.
Kidnapping of foreigners is quite rare in Afghanistan.Kidnapping of foreigners is quite rare in Afghanistan.
Last year Taleban rebels kidnapped 23 South Korean Christian workers and two German engineers. Two of the Koreans and one of the Germans were killed.Last year Taleban rebels kidnapped 23 South Korean Christian workers and two German engineers. Two of the Koreans and one of the Germans were killed.