11 April 2004	Sunday	20 Safar 1425

KABUL, April 10: Suspected Taliban militants have kidnapped a high-ranking local government officer in south-central Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, an official said on Saturday.

"Our intelligence chief, Haji Ahmadullah and two of his bodyguards have been kidnapped by Taliban while driving to the provincial capital Tarin Kowt from a mission in neighbouring districts," a security official who asked not to be named told AFP.

The official said that the three men were kidnapped on Thursday and are believed to have been taken to remote Shah Wali Kot district, a southern mountainous area believed to be the main hideout for Taliban remnants in Uruzgan.

Speaking by satellite phone from Tarin Kowt, the official said the kidnappers had not made any contact with government.-AFP