Afghan Interpreter Slain

Apr 08, 11:37 AM

Current Headlines: Taliban forces say they killed an Afghan interpreter who worked for foreign journalists after the government refused to release several of their members.

Ajmal Naqshbandi was kidnapped March 6 along with Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo and their driver in Helmand province, the BBC said.

We killed Ajmal today because the government did not respond to our demands, Taliban spokesman Shohaabuddin Atal said Sunday.

The driver was beheaded before Mastrogiacomo was released unharmed in exchange for the freedom of five Taliban members.

The release of prisoners to save a foreigner but not Afghans has angered many in the country, the BBC said.

The Taliban still holds five government medics and two French aid workers along with three other Afghans, but President Hamid Karzai says there will be no more exchanges.