Italian newspaper denies kidnapped reporter a spy

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Italian newspaper denies kidnapped reporter a spy
07 Mar 2007 19:59:59 GMT
Source: Reuters

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• Afghan turmoil


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ROME, March 7 (Reuters) - Italian newspaper La Repubblica has denied that one of its journalists who was kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan was a spy.

A Taliban spokesman said on Tuesday that Daniele Mastrogiacomo, 52, had confessed to spying for British troops after being picked up in the lawless Helmand province.

La Repubblica said the veteran foreign correspondent was in the area only to report news.

"He has no relationship whatsoever either with military organisations nor with police or intelligence services of any kind or country," Ezio Mauro, the paper's editor-in-chief, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Agence France Presse news agency said on Wednesday it received a voice recording of a man claiming to be top Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah, who said the reporter and two Afghans accompanying him had confessed to seeking information on the guerrilla group's hideouts to provide to British troops.

more:http://mobile.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L07289607.htm

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Taliban kidnap Briton, two Afghans
KABUL, March 6 (Reuters) - The Taliban said on Tuesday they had captured a Briton and two Afghans in the southern province of Helmand, a major drug producer, but gave no further details.

Some media reports said those kidnapped on Monday were journalists.

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