By Xinhua
Kabul : The Taliban said Sunday that it had released three Afghan aid workers who were kidnapped with two French nationals nearly two months ago.
The Taliban handed over the three hostages to local elders Saturday afternoon in the southern Nimroz province, Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told Xinhua by satellite phone from an undisclosed place.
Ahmadi said they were freed as the Taliban found they were innocent, adding no deal was made between the authorities and the Taliban.
The health of the three was in good condition, the Taliban spokesman said.
Meanwhile, spokesman of Interior Ministry Zamarai Bashari said that the ministry also heard the report that the three were released but could not confirm it. "We are working on the case to get more information."
The three Afghans were kidnapped on April 3 in Nimroz with their two French colleagues, who were working for Terre d'enfance (Children's Land), a non-governmental organization assisting children.
As to the two French nationals, one female named Celine was released on April 28, while one male named Eric was freed on May 11.
The Taliban kidnapped a five-member Afghan medical team in the southern Kandahar province on March 27, and has insisted that it would only release them after the authorities free some Taliban prisoners.
Taliban militants beheaded a young Afghan journalist Ajmal Naqshbandi in April as the government refused to free some Taliban prisoners.