The Taliban said on Sunday that it had released three Afghan aid workers, who were kidnapped with two French nationals nearly two months ago.

The Taliban handed over the three hostages to local elders on Saturday afternoon in the southern Nimroz province, self-claimed Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told Xinhua by satellite phone from an undisclosed place.

Ahmadi said they were freed as the Taliban found they were innocent people after investigation, adding no deal was made between the authorities and the Taliban.

The health of the three was in good condition, the Taliban spokesman said.

Meanwhile, spokesman of Interior Ministry Zamarai Bashari told Xinhua that the ministry also heard the report that the three were released but could not confirm it until now. "We are working on the case to get more information."

The three Afghans were kidnapped on April 3 in Nimroz together with their two French colleagues, who were working for Terre d' enfance (Children's Land), a non-governmental organization assisting children.

As to the two French nationals, one female named Celine was released on April 28, while one male named Eric was freed on May 11.

The Taliban kidnapped a five-member Afghan medical team in the southern Kandahar province on March 27, and has insisted that it would only release them after some Taliban prisoners are freed by the authorities.

Taliban militants beheaded a young Afghan journalist Ajmal Naqshbandi in April as the government refused to free some Taliban prisoners.

Source: Xinhua