Italian journalist freed in Afghanistan

KANDAHAR: An Italian journalist kidnapped in Afghanistan was handed over to Italian officials on Monday after two weeks in captivity and days after his driver was executed. 

Taliban military commander Mullah Dadullah and the Italian Foreign Ministry said Karachi-born La Repubblica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo had been freed. Details were sketchy.   

Afghanistan's private Pajhwok news agency said Mastrogiacomo had been handed to "Italian officials" in southern Helmand province, where NATO last month launched a major offensive.   

But it was not clear if that meant the embassy or Italian medical aid group Emergency, which runs a hospital in the province and was involved in the negotiations for the release of another Italian reporter late last year.   

The Taliban's military commander, Mullah Dadullah, told Reuters by satellite phone from an undisclosed location the reporter had been freed after Afghan authorities released five senior Taliban officials, including his own brother.   

In Italy, Prime Minister Romano Prodi said Mastrogiacomo had been taken to hospital in Afghanistan run by Emergency.   

"He is in the Emergency hospital and is in good health. I hope that in a few days we will be able to embrace him," Prodi told reporters.