RP places blackout on abduction

RP places blackout on abduction

PHILIPPINES: The Philippine government imposed on Monday a news
blackout on the case of a Filipino diplomat abducted by a Taliban
faction in Afghanistan to avoid jeopardizing efforts to free him
and two other United Nations workers.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said the news blackout was
necessary "to avoid controversies that could prejudice the safety
of Angelito Nayan", a 34-year-old foreign service officer working
with the UN electoral committee in Kabul.

"We need to forge broad support for the restraint on
information we're imposing," she said in an address broadcast
nationwide. "We are taking all appropriate measures to bring
Angelito home. We're closely coordinating with the UN".

Prior to issuing the statement, Arroyo spoke on the telephone
with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who assured her that the
organization was doing all it could to ensure the safety and
security of Nayan and his coworkers.

Nayan, British-Irish Annetta Flanigan and Kosovar Shqipe
Hebibi were snatched at gunpoint last Thursday from their vehicle
in Kabul.

Their abductors, belonging to the Jaishul Muslimeen (Army of
Muslims), a breakaway Taliban group, have demanded that the UN
and foreign forces leave Afghanistan within three days and
condemn the invasion. -- DPA