April 10, 2007	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 21, 1428

KABUL, April 9: The Afghan government should execute Taliban prisoners, an Afghan daily said on Monday, the day after the rebels killed the translator of an Italian journalist. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Taliban commander holding five Afghan Health Ministry officials said the militants would kill one of the hostages unless Kabul opened talks with the group.

Spokesman Shahabuddin Atal said translator Ajmal Naqshbandi had been beheaded on Sunday after the government refused to free several insurgent prisoners. Government officials later confirmed the man was killed.—Reuters