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Report: Taliban Kidnapper Killed
 KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghan police killed a Taliban terrorist militant alleged to be behind the July kidnappings of 23 South Korean church workers, authorities said Tuesday. Up to 27 other terrorists insurgents were also slain, while separate suicide attacks killed three police officers.
Mullah Mateen was among 16 terrorists militants killed in fighting late Monday and early Tuesday in Ghazni province, where the South Koreans were kidnapped, said Ghazni Deputy Gov. Kazim Allayar. Allayar said Mateen played a key role in the kidnapping, including negotiating with the government in the early days of the kidnappings, which underscored the security problems facing Afghanistan at a time of surging Taliban violence.
He said another Taliban terrorist leader wanted over the kidnappings, Mullah Abdullah Jan, remained at large.
A Taliban terrorist spokesman said he was not able to comment on the claim of Mateen's death, which a senior police official also made.
Earlier, the U.S.led-coalition said in a statement its troops, along with Afghan forces, killed "several" terrorists militants overnight in the same part of Ghazni where Allayer said Mateen and the 15 others was killed. The statement made no mention of Mateen and it was not immediately clear whether it was referring to the same battle.
Posted by: Glenmore 2007-09-04 |
