Posted on 05/05/2007 2:22:56 AM PDT by Cincinna
KABUL, May 5, 2007 (AFP)
- The Taliban said Saturday it would decide the fate of a French hostage and three Afghans captured a month ago after the results of the presidential election in France.
The extremist group had earlier set a deadline of Saturday for an agreement on the withdrawal of French troops or the release of Taliban prisoners in exchange for the hostages.
A spokesman for the militants told AFP they would now wait until after the results of Sunday's French election to decide the fate of the hostages.
The winning candidate is likely to be known by the time polls close at 1800 GMT, which is 10:30 pm in Afghanistan.
"For the sake of the French nation who have asked for the Taliban's mercy we have extended the deadline for the French hostage and the Afghans until the end of the French elections," spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told AFP by telephone.
Ahmadi gave no precise time.
Terre d'Enfance (A World For Our Children) aid worker Eric Damfreville and three Afghans working with him were captured in southwestern Afghanistan on April 3.
A Frenchwoman abducted with them, Celine Cordelier, was released last Saturday when the Taliban extended by a week the deadline for its demands to be met saying it was aware the French nation was "busy" with the election.
If its demands were not met, a council of elders would decide on the fate of the four, Ahmadi said last week. Asked if they could be killed, Ahmadi said the group's policy was "clear."
The militants have executed several Turks and Indians, but they have claimed responsibility for only one killing of a western hostage, a British engineer in 2005.
Ahmadi told AFP Friday there had been no negotiations for the four men.
"The deadline is drawing closer every moment," he said. "The French government and the Afghan government not only have not accepted our demands, but they even have not tried to contact us."
President Hamid Karzai said Wednesday however that his government was doing what it could. "We are in close coordination with France, we are doing everything in that regard," he told reporters.
The French foreign ministry said in Paris Friday "we consider that all useful and possible contacts must be made" in the case.
The Afghan government was heavily criticised last month when it freed five Taliban prisoners in exchange for an Italian journalist captured by the militants.
It was a one-off deal that would never be repeated, the government said afterwards.
Less than a week after the Italian was freed, a medical team that included Afghan doctors and nurses was captured in southern Afghanistan. The Taliban has said it has demanded certain prisoners in exchange for the five.
Cordelier, the French woman released on Saturday last week, met the international media hours afterwards her freeing to deliver a Taliban message that France's 1,000 troops must leave Afghanistan.
"Eric came, like me, to Afghanistan as a friend," Cordelier added in an appeal to the extremists who had held her for 24 days.
"Hashim, Rasoul and Azrat are Afghans. They are Muslims, they are their brothers. They have children who are waiting for them.
"I have told them before leaving that my freedom is nothing without theirs. Release them."
The Taliban was in government between 1996-2001 when it famously carried out brutal punishments, including stonings, for perceived infringements of the ultra-conservative Islamic code of behaviour.
The group is today waging an insurgency against Karzai's government that has grown steadily and is supported by the Al-Qaeda terror network.
Someone like Sarko, with strong principles, a spine of steel, with nerves to match. Things are going to get a lot worse before they get better.
We are engaged in a world wide war on Islamo-Fascist terror by people who want to capture us and slit our throats.
A leader must first be aware of this, and acknowledge that yes, the WOT does really exist, and that we are in the battle of our lives.
the taliban (and al qaeda) are having to carry the water for the euro liberals now...
al qaeda came to the rescue of them in spain, just as it looked like the libs there would loose. Now the taliban has to save Royal from defeat!
Coalition forces have killed the Taliban commander who was released several weeks ago in exchange for an Italian reporter who was held hostage....
Wonder who the Taliban is rooting for?
/s
Good!
this delay implies one or two things:
1) they believe that no decision will be made until a new french president is installed.
2) they believe Royal, a woman, may be a better president to deal with Karzai. Why doesn’t someone ask Royal the question “do you think that Karzai should allow five taliban to go free in place of the french hostage?” And see what she says. They need to ask today......
Reading this and thinking about our elections coming up in 2008...
Bombing in Spain to influence their elections...
Hostages from France, now being held until ‘after elections’
What will they attempt to influence our elections? What will sway our public opinion to conduct elections in fear? A pattern is developing here and we should be paying attention to it. The next strike will be at our elections, to influence our elections so we don’t elect a strong leader or leadership.
Murderous Islamists should be considered ineligible for long term “detainment” prior to execution......
I don’t think they have much to worry about. Looking at the lame GOP candidates we have so far, I can say that the next prez will almost certainly be a Dem. And they’re no threat at all to the Islamists, so I think AQ and friends and can just sit back and wait.
Practicing a form of extortion to sway the French elections is an interesting new technique, though, but I don’t think it will work.
And the Democrats play politics with it.
Carolyn
This isn't about Iraq, this isn't bin Laden, this isn't about George Bush, this isn't about diplomacy, this isn't about oil... this is about imposing their will, the will of Allah, on the rest of the world.
And, they are willing to cut throats, strap bombs to babies, drive airplanes into buildings, or use any tool at their hands to achieve... the gloves are off.
However, this story will be invisible to America due to our MSM.
Okaaaay.....
And the fact that they haven't, don't, and won't speaks volumes.
You are correct. We will have a horrible attack, designed to influence our 2008 election. Al Queda’s goal is to help get a Democrat elected President of the U.S.
No matter who wins, the French foreign ministry is bureaucrat-driven and extremely independent.
These people are so irrational. Remember, tho, that the Iranian hostages were freed as soon as our man of steel was inaugurated. So maybe there’s hope yet.
Hey, it worked with Spain ... why not try it again, they thought.
The Democrats don’t know what damage they are inflicting on our Country. They are consorting with an enemy that will never become our allies. They want us wiped off the face of this earth or a least be their subjects.
God be with the French tomorrow as they go to the polls. They must remember their hostages in Afghanistan are soldiers that went to defend the Freedom of their Country, not to be dictated to by a bunch of Islamic fanatics. BTW, where are the voices of the Muslims in France? Are they verbally condemning this action being used by the Taliban? If it would have been October 2008 Grandma Nan would be held a hostage in Syria until after the elections AND it would be interesting what the results would be here at polls for who the next President of the United States would be.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.