Taliban not decided fate of French hostage-report

By Phil Stewart

ROME (Reuters) - The Taliban have not yet decided the fate of a French aid worker taken hostage last month and plan to continue targeting foreigners linked to U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan, senior commander Mullah Dadullah said.

He told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera the Taliban wanted to force Afghan President Hamid Karzai openly to swap the hostages for jailed Taliban, something Karzai's government did in March at Rome's request to free an Italian reporter.

That swap was criticised in Afghanistan and abroad for potentially encouraging more kidnappings, and Karzai has ruled out doing it again.

"Our guiding principle is: one of our hostages in return for three (Taliban) in the government's hands. Karzai is ready to do it in secret, but we want it known publicly," Dadullah said.

The Taliban last month abducted two French aid workers and three Afghans working for Terre d'Enfance, an agency helping children. One of the French workers was released on Saturday for what Dadullah called "humanitarian reasons".

"The French were kidnapped in keeping with our principle that all foreigners linked to the coalition guided by the United States will be hit," he said.

Asked whether the Taliban planned to execute the remaining French hostage, Eric, and the Afghans, Dadullah said: "We have not yet decided what will be the fate of the Frenchman and his three Afghan colleagues.

"But we have asked that some Taliban be released and that French troops leave the country."