Kidnapped Afghan professors, students released

Kabul, June 23 (IANS) Militants from Afghanistan's eastern province of Ghazni released 24 out of 34 university professors and students they held hostage for nearly two weeks, an official said Monday.

"The 24 out of 34 abducted lecturers and students from Kandahar University were freed overnight. They were freed unconditionally," the official told Xinhua.

The release took place due to intervention of government officials and mediation of local leaders, the official said.

The abduction took place June 10, after militants along the highway in Qara Bagh district of Ghazni stopped a bus and took the victims to an unknown location.

A Taliban statement had also confirmed the release.