Japanese man 'held in Afghanistan'

The Japanese Government says it is still trying to confirm reports that one of its nationals, believed to be a freelance photographer, has been detained by Taleban soldiers in eastern Afghanistan.

A senior Taleban official in Nangarhar province, Mowlawi Sadrazam, said the man and his Pakistani translator had been detained close to the border with Pakistan, and had been taken to the city of Jalalabad for questioning.

Japanese media reports named the man as Isamu Iida.

In Tokyo, a senior official said the government was investigating the reports.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service