Oct. 28, 2004

The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, has condemned the kidnapping of Irish citizen Annetta Flanigan in Afghanistan today. Below is the text of a statement he issued on receipt of the news of her kidnapping: 

It has now been confirmed that one of those kidnapped in Kabul this morning is an Irish citizen, who is working with the United Nations in Afghanistan.

I condemn unreservedly this kidnapping and call for the immediate and unconditional release of those taken. 

Few details about the kidnapping are available at this stage. We are following the situation closely, including through the UN offices on the ground and through our accredited Embassy in Tehran.