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19 out of 31 Afghan hostages freed: official

Xinhua, May 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Some 19 Afghan hostages out of 31 passengers who had been kidnapped in late February were released on Monday, an official source said.

"Following days of local elders' mediation, 19 passengers were freed and they were handed over by kidnappers to local elders in Pahtoo area of Jaghori district of eastern Ghazni province on Monday morning," the district governor Zafar Sharif told Xinhua.

Efforts are ongoing to secure the safe release of 12 other captives, the official noted.

A total of 31 passengers were abducted by unknown armed men, possibly militants loyal to the Taliban outfit on Kabul-Kandahar highway in the neighboring Zabul province on Feb. 24 and taken to an unknown location.

The official did not provide details. However, unofficial sources said the hostages have been released in exchange for the release of militants. Endi