The Philippine government said on Sunday that the Philippine envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Jorge Arizabal, is now in Kabul to coordinate with UN officials and Afghan authorities in seeking the release of a Philippine UN employee kidnapped by Talibans.

"He (Arizabal) is there to establish contacts with groups, institutions and foreign missions which could help in our government's efforts to release (Angelito) Nayan. The mission of Ambassador Arizabal is to work closely with Afghan authorities and other institutions for the negotiation process," said Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Rafael Seguis.

Seguis also advised all the Philippine nationals in Afghanistan to "limit their movement." "Situation is described as not conducive to roaming around Kabul at this time," he said.

He said that a UN negotiating team was already in Kabul on Saturday and "they must be already in the negotiation process."

He said that he did not have any information on the location and condition of the hostages, neither has he received any information on whether negotiators have contacted kidnappers.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has called for praying for the safe release of Nayan, who is a junior diplomat abducted with two other UN workers last Thursday in Afghanistan.

A breakaway Taliban group claiming to hold Nayan demanded on Saturday that the Philippine government "condemn the invasion of Afghanistan."

Source: Xinhua