09 November 2004	Tuesday	25 Ramazan 1425

KABUL, Nov 8: Four Afghan journalists offered on Monday to swap places with three foreign UN workers captured by a Taliban splinter group last month, and condemned the kidnapping as against Afghan traditions and Islamic law.

The four, aged between 25 and 28, made the offer in an open letter sent to newspapers and media groups in Afghanistan that included their telephone numbers and addresses so they could be contacted by the kidnappers.

"To avoid discrediting Afghan culture and to respect the holy religion of Islam, we are ready to be kept hostages instead of the three foreign nationals until the demands of the kidnappers are met," the letter said.

"Hostage taking is against Afghan culture and traditions. The holy religion of Islam teaches us to respect our guests," it said.

The UN workers, here for Afghanistan's presidential elections last month, were snatched from their vehicle in busy lunchtime traffic in Kabul on Oct 28.

Their kidnappers, from a shadowy group called Jaishul Muslimeen, have set and broken several deadlines to execute them unless their demands, including the release of Taliban prisoners, are met.

"We are four journalists and we also work with NGOs," one of the volunteers, 28-year-old Hafizullah Gheshtalai from Kabul, said.-AFP