AFGHANISTAN: The militant group holding three foreign UN workers captive in Afghanistan - including Co Armagh woman Annetta Flanigan - extended an ultimatum for their threatened execution yesterday but gave conflicting versions of a new deadline.
The Jaish-e Muslimeen (Army of Muslims) had threatened to kill the trio unless authorities released all Taliban prisoners from US custody by noon (07.30 Irish time) yesterday, but said the deadline had been extended because of negotiations with the United Nations.
The government, meanwhile, broadcast an appeal on state television for Afghans to come forward with information on the kidnappings, and set up hotlines - believed to be a first for the country.
One spokesman for the kidnappers, Sabir Mohmin, told Reuters the new deadline would be 2 p.m. tomorrow, but another, Sayed Khalid Agha, said it had been set at midnight (19.30 Irish time) last night.
Agha, however, held out hope that further time might be given to negotiate with the governments of the three hostages - Ms Flanagan, Filipino Mr Angelito Nayan, and Ms Shqipe Hebibi from Kosovo.
The confusion has typified the kidnappings and subsequent investigation, which officially is being handled by the interior ministry and its fledgling police force with help from the United Nations and 28,000-strong US and NATO-led force.
Security sources say Britain has sent a hostage specialist team from Scotland Yard, while the Philippines has dispatched its ambassador from neighbouring Pakistan.
Apart from the militant group, the parties involved are tight-lipped and it is unclear at what stage direct negotiations may be - if there are any at all.
The group's leader, Mullah Sayed Mohammad Akbar Agha, had told Reuters previously that negotiations with a "tajir" - an influential trader with wide contacts - were continuing.
The government has previously negotiated the release of several foreign nationals kidnapped by Taliban fugitives, some by paying ransom, and some security sources say that could be the best hope in this case.
The crisis is an immediate challenge for Hamid Karzai, who yesterday was officially declared the winner of Afghanistan's October 9th presidential election after an independent review panel concluded voting irregularities did not affect the outcome.
The three hostages were working on the election results last week when they were snatched from a busy Kabul street.
Afghanistan has largely been spared the violence that accompanied the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, but over 1,000 people have died in the last year in the slow-burning insurgency being waged by remnants of the Taliban.