Iranian abducted in Afghanistan

An Iranian engineer has been kidnapped in the western Afghan province of Herat, the authorities say.

The man was seized by gunmen close to the Iranian border, police said. He had been working on a rail link project between the two countries.

It is not clear who carried out the kidnap. An Afghan guard and driver were also abducted and later released.

Abductions have soared in Afghanistan, regularly carried out by the Taleban in their battle with the Kabul government.