World | Pakistan
UN seeks contact with American's captors
The Taliban on Friday said it would probably extend a ceasefire in Pakistan's Swat valley as the militants' commander met his father-in- law, a hardline cleric freed by the government to negotiate a peace.
- Reuters
- Published: 23:01 February 20, 2009
Quetta: The United Nations on Friday appealed for the kidnappers of an American employee to make contact, saying it feared for John Solecki's health.
A hitherto unheard of militant group called the Baluchistan Liberation United Front (BLUF) has threatened to kill Solecki, head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' office in Quetta, unless the UN acts on its demands.
It wants the release of 141 women it says have been detained in Pakistan, information on about more than 6,000 missing persons, and the resolution of the issue of Baluch independence aspirations.
Solecki was kidnapped on February 2 after gunmen ambushed his car and shot dead his driver in Quetta, the provincial capital of southwestern Baluchistan province.
"The United Nations once again appeals to those having John to contact us, if not directly, then through a trusted intermediary," the UN said in a statement.
The UN said it had been told Solecki's health was failing, and expressed concern that his condition could become life threatening.
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