Deadline looms for kidnapped Irishwoman

Kidnappers threatening to kill a Northern Irish woman in Afghanistan were today awaiting a response to their demand for a prisoner exchange.

United Nations worker Annetta Flanigan and two other UN officials were snatched by a Taliban splinter group in the capital Kabul 12 days ago.

The Jaish-al Muslimeen group were demanding a UN pull-out from Afghanistan and the release of Taliban prisoners.

It had set a 2pm local time (9.30am Irish time) deadline for Afghan and UN officials to arrange for the release of 26 inmates, though a spokesman said they would wait until evening.

“We’re very hopeful they will accept our conditions,” said Syed Khaled, a spokesman for the militants. “If not, the shura (council) will decide what to do next.”

Jaish-al Muslimeen, or Army of Muslims, said on Sunday that it had handed a list of prisoners to government negotiators during secret talks in southern Afghanistan.

The Taliban splinter organisation had set a similar deadline on Friday to decide whether the trio lived or died but delayed any move after the so-called secret talks.

Neither the Afghan government nor the UN has confirmed any contact with the kidnappers.

The abduction of Mrs Flanigan, from Richhill, Co Armagh, as well as colleagues, Filipino Angelito Nayan and Kosovan Shqipe Hebibi, was the first of foreigners in Kabul since the Taliban was ousted in 2001.

Mrs Flanigan was working for a joint UN and Afghan commission monitoring the October 9 presidential elections when she and her companions were abducted from a marked UN car in a busy street.

Nine days ago the militants released a video which showed the three pleading for their freedom.

The kidnappers have said that the hostages are suffering from stress, cold and a diet of little more than biscuits.

Mrs Flanigan’s family, who own a village furniture store, have maintained a total silence throughout her ordeal.