Reuters: Italian journalist kidnapped in Afghanistan: reports

[Eugene]

Italian journalist kidnapped in Afghanistan: reports

By Terry Friel Sat Oct 14, 10:56 PM ET

KABUL, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Gunmen have kidnapped an Italian photojournalist
in the lawless southern heartland of the Taliban, news reports and aid workers
said on Saturday.

The abduction of Gabriele Torsello, not yet confirmed by Italian authorities
in Rome or Kabul, came as two more NATO soldiers died in the south in the
bloodiest year since a U.S.-led coalition ousted the Taliban in 2001.

-snip-

Torsello was seized by five gunmen on the highway from the capital of Helmand
province to neighboring Kandahar province, the independent Pajhwok news agency
quoted traveling companion Gholam Mohammad saying.

Pajhwok said its call to Torsello's mobile phone was answered by a man saying:
"We are the Taliban and we have abducted the foreigner on charges of spying."

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061015/wl_nm/afghan_dc