9 of the 30 abducted passengers released in South of Afghanistan

At least nine of the thirty abducted passengers have been released in southern Uruzgan province of Afghanistan.

The local security officials confirmed that nine of the hostages were released on Wednesday.
Provincial security chief Abdul Qawi Omari said nine of the hostages were released after the local tribal and influential elders intervened and negotiated with the Taliban insurgents.
He said still many passengers are in the captivity of the Taliban insurgents.

According to Omari, the passengers were abducted two days ago by the Taliban insurgents from the vicinity of Sabzal area in southern Kandahar province.

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Two abducted ICRC staff members released

Two ICRC staff members who were abducted in February this year in Jawzjan province have been released.

“We are relieved and grateful that our colleagues are now back with us unharmed,” said the ICRC head of delegation in Afghanistan, Monica Zanarelli. “Their abduction and the killings of our six colleagues were emotional agony for all of us, especially for their families and friends.”

The two staff members were abducted by an armed group on 8 February 2017 while on their way to deliver assistance in Jawzan province with six other colleagues who were shot and killed in the same attack.

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