From correspondents in Kabul, Afghanistan, 03:31 PM IST

Militants released the last three of the 13 Afghan de-miners captured one week ago in the eastern Paktia province, an agency chief said Thursday.

With the mediation of local tribal elders, the abductors freed the three de-miners late Wednesday, said Kafayatullah Iblagh, director of the Afghan Technical Consultants (ATC) group, for which the mine clearers work.

All three were in good condition and had been shifted to the ATC's local office in the provincial capital Gardez, Iblagh said. But he did not identify the abductors.

The kidnappers released 10 out of the 13 Afghan de-miners Monday.

The Taliban, which carried out a series of kidnappings recently, has denied any involvement in the incident.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)