A senior Taliban commander has threatened to kill an Italian reporter accused of spying if the Italian government does not meet the group's demands, a Pakistan-based news agency reported.

In return for the release of La Repubblica journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, the Taliban have demanded the withdrawal of Italian troops from Afghanistan and the release of three Taliban spokesmen.

Mullah Dadullah, a Taliban commander whose fighters are believed to be holding the Italian, said they would kill Mastrogiacomo if the demands were not met by Friday.

"If our demands aren't met, we'll slaughter the journalist on the seventh day from today," Dadullah told private Afghan Islamic Press on Saturday.

The Taliban earlier said they would release Mastrogiacomo, held last Monday on charges of spying for British troops, if he proved his innocence.

But a Taliban spokesman later said they had changed their mind after the Italian lower house of parliament on Thursday voted in favor of keeping 1,900 Italian troops in Afghanistan.

The Taliban often execute Afghans they accuse of spying, hanging or shooting them in the head or slitting their throats.

The Italian government has called on the kidnappers to provide evidence that Mastrogiacomo is alive before any talks for his release can start.

Mastrogiacomo was picked up in the lawless southern province of Helmand last Monday along with two Afghan colleagues. The Taliban said he had confessed to spying for British troops.

La Repubblica denied the reporter was a spy and said the Karachi-born man had been writing for them since 1980 and had been reporting from Afghanistan since February 28.

Germany, Austria warned

Also on Saturday, an Islamist group called on Germany and Austria to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan to prevent attacks against the two countries.

"Why would you (Germany) want all this (economic interests) threatened for the sake of (US President George W.) Bush and his band?" the Voice of the Khalifate said in a video posted on an Islamist website used by militants, including Al-Qaida.

"Isn't it stupid to encourage the mujahideen to launch attacks in your country?"

The speaker pointed out that Austria relied on tourism for an important part of its revenue, adding: "This situation would change if there is a security threat and Austria becomes a country targeted by the mujahideen."

It appeared on the same day, on the same website, as a video issued by a little-known militant group in Iraq which said it would kill two hostages, a German woman and her son, in 10 days unless Berlin withdrew its troops from Afghanistan.

Source: China Daily