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Islamist Websites Congratulate Taliban For 'Prisoner Swap'
Kabul, 20 March (AKI) - Congratulatory messages for the Taliban have appeared on Islamist forums on the Internet over the reported release of five Taliban leaders in exchange for the Italian journalist, Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who was freed by the Taliban on Monday after being held prisoner for two weeks. "Participate to the congratulatory messages to be sent to the Taliban for the exchange of prisoners with the Italian unbeliever," read the title of the pages in some Islamist websites.Congratulatory messages have been posted on these web pages by al-Qaeda supporters over what they describe as a positive outcome in the reported release of five Taliban leaders in exchange for the 52 year old journalist for Rome daily La Repubblica. There has been no official confirmation of the release of the five Taliban leaders by Afghan authorities. Since Sunday evening, the websites which carry messages by terrorist groups, have been celebrating the initial reports that two Taliban leaders, Ustad Yaser and Mufti Hakimi, had been released by Afghan authorities. At the time, a message by a Taliban spokesperson Muhammad Yusuf, said that such an exchange had taken place. At the same time in Italy, it was still uncertain that Mastrogiacomo had been released. The websites close to the Taliban told their supporters that "the Mujahadeen of the Islamic Emirate released at midday today (Sunday) the Italian journalist together with his interpreter who have been prisoners of the mujahadeen for the past two weeks. This has occured based on the exchange for the mujahadeen Ustad Muhammad Yaser and Mufti Latif Allah Hakimi who have been detained in the prison in Bul Tshkuhi for the past two years. The exchange was carried out through a third party in the province of Helmand." However, it was only on Monday that these Islamist websites also began mentioning the release of another three Taliban fighters in the same exchange deal, unleashing a stream of joyful messages for the Taliban. "What great news," wrote Sanafi al-Nasr. "We also want the release of our other brothers who have been detained," he said. Following the first message, within a few minutes, more than 20 messages were reportedly posted, including a photo of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin laden and compliments for the Taliban. Messages also encouraged the Taliban to continue their fight against NATO troops in Afghanistan. Posted by: Steve 2007-03-20 |
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