Taliban release video of Canadian hostage

KABUL on Sunday released a video of a Canadian national in their captivity in southern Ghazni province.

Colin Rutherford, a 26-year-old Canadian civilian, was taken hostage by insurgents in October in Ghazni.

With a message, the Taliban spokesman, Zabhihullah Mujahid, sent the 1:50 seconds long footage of the kidnapped Toronto citizen, who appeared healthy while speaking in English.

He was asked a number of questions by a man sitting or standing out of view.  In the video, Rutherford explained how he arrived first in Kabul, and three days later ventured to Ghazni. He was “apprehended” on his second day in Ghazni, he says. When asked how he was treated, he said he was treated humanely.

The rebel spokesman said Rutherford was detained for his suspicious activities.

Mujahid said documents recovered from him showed he was spying against the Taliban.

He said they had asked the Canadian government to accept their conditions in return for Rutherford’s release. However, he said their calls were not answered.

The Taliban once against called on the Canadian government to take their conditions seriously and warned if demands were not met, the detainee would be put on a trial process.

A tribal elder, Akhunzada, said the Taliban wanted to secure the release of their jailed comrades in return for setting free the kidnapped Canadian.

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