Taliban capture nine people from downed chopper

Kabul, April 22 (IANS) Taliban militants captured nine people from a downed helicopter in Afghanistan's Logar province overnight, official Hamidullah Hamid said Monday.

"A civilian helicopter went down in Darai Manga area of Azra district overnight and Taliban militants captured all nine aboard," Hamid told Xinhua.

Eight of the hostages are Turkish nationals and one is Afghan, Hamid said, adding that the Turkish nationals are construction engineers and were coming from Khost to Kabul.

According to the Hamid, efforts are underway to rescue the abducted people.

Taliban militants fighting the government are yet to comment.

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed the incident, saying there were no enemy activities in the area.

"We can confirm that a civilian helicopter was downed in eastern Afghanistan. The ISAF is assessing the recovery of the helicopter," spokesman of the alliance Captain Luca Carniel told Xinhua.