An Italian photojournalist working alone in the lawless Taliban stronghold of southern Afghanistan has been kidnapped by gunmen who have accused him of being a spy. Gabriele Torsello was seized by five men from a public bus on Thursday when he was travelling from Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province to neighbouring Kandahar - the two parts of the country where fighting between insurgents and Nato forces is fiercest.News of his abduction emerged through the independent news agency Pajhwok, which spoke to Torsello's travelling companion, Gholam Mohammad, about the incident.
When Pajhwok rang the journalist's mobile phone, the man who answered said: 'We are the Taliban and we have abducted the foreigner on charges of spying.' However, a spokesman for the Islamic insurgent group told the Reuters news agency that they were not involved in any kidnappings, and blamed criminals instead.
Although born in Puglia, southern Italy, Torsello has lived in London for some years with his wife and son, according to Peace Reporter, an online Italian newspaper which specialises in reports from war zones.
He had been working in Afghanistan since 2005 and had operated in areas of conflicts before. In 2003 he published a book with Amnesty International, titled The Heart of Kashmir. Torsello's website says that he 'is currently in Afghanistan - Helmand province - available for assignments.'
Peace Reporter said Torsello had spoken by telephone after his abduction to the security at a hospital run by an Italian relief organisation in Lashkar Gah. He said that he did not know where he was being held and confirmed how he was taken forcibly from the bus.
| Of course the Italian government will buy him out and then deny it. |