57 mine removers kidnapped in Afghanistan

Fifty-seven civilian mine removers have been kidnapped on their way to work in western Afghanistan.

The de-miners – all Afghan – were abducted in the Pashtun Zargun district as they drove to an area that needed to be cleared.

Sixty-three were originally taken, but six were later released. It was unclear who was behind the kidnap.

After 30 years of near-continuous conflict and war, Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world.