US envoy opposes kidnapper talks

Mr Armitage pledged renewed US commitment to Afghanistan

A top US envoy visiting Afghanistan has said there should be no negotiations with kidnappers of three UN workers.

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said the US believed talks would only "encourage more" abductions.

Annetta Flanigan from Northern Ireland, Shqipe Habibi from Kosovo and Filipino Angelito Nayan were abducted in Kabul on 28 October.

The kidnappers have demanded the release of 26 Taleban prisoners in return for the hostages' lives.

Speaking on the second day of a two-day visit to Afghanistan, Mr Armitage said he was praying for the safe return of the hostages.

However, he added: "It is the United States view that negotiating with the hostage-takers, compromising with hostage-takers only encourages more."

(From left) Flanigan, Nayan and Habibi, held since 28 October

Spokesmen for the hostage-takers have said they have been in negotiations with the Afghan government and UN, but those authorities have said little about any talks.

On Tuesday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said: "We're working very hard to have the safe and secure release of the UN workers who have helped us in Afghanistan tremendously."

The UN workers were taken from their vehicle in a busy Kabul street.

On Tuesday, Ms Flanigan and Ms Habibi were allowed to call relatives, the first confirmation they were alive since a video showing them was released 10 days ago.

A group calling itself the Army of Muslims says it is holding the hostages, who had been helping to organise the presidential election on 9 October.

Disarmament

Mr Armitage has used his visit to praise the success of those elections.

Sooner or later we will find [Bin Laden]. We will stick our head into the right hole and there he'll be Richard Armitage

"The whole world just witnessed almost a miracle in the election of October 9," he said.

However, he said it was essential that the programme of "disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration" of private militias be speeded up before parliamentary elections are held next spring.

"It takes a lot of courage to fight, but I would say it takes even more to enrol in a programme like this to try to change you life almost 180 degrees," Mr Armitage said.

The envoy said the US was fully committed to supporting Afghanistan.

"The only possible change that might occur in the next four years of George W Bush is to accelerate even further our assistance and support for Afghanistan," he said.

Mr Armitage stressed that US forces would leave the country, but only when Afghan troops could take over fully - at a time he could not predict.

"From the beginning, we've said that we desire no permanent military presence in the region," he said.

Mr Armitage also said he had no idea where al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was.

"As we all know, there are many holes in which he can hide. I am confident, however, that sooner or later we will find him. We will stick our head into the right hole and there he'll be."