Date: Sunday May. 8, 2011 11:23 AM ET
The Taliban has released a video of a Canadian man captured earlier this year in central Afghanistan whom they accuse of being a Canadian spy.
The unidentified man was detained in Ghazni city in February by insurgents who accused him of collecting secret information. The Taliban is threatening to put the man on trial for spying unless Canada's government accepts unspecified demands for his release.
"The evidence and documents found in his possession had shown that he entered Afghanistan for spying purposes and was an active agent, gathering intelligence on the Taliban," said Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the hardline Islamists, in a email sent to news organizations, including the Associated Press.
The man in the video answers questions from an unseen interrogator in a calm voice. He describes himself as an auditor and denies working for the Canadian government.
The man says he had travelled to Afghanistan because he had an interest in its history. When asked about religion, he answers: "I don't have a religion. I guess I'd call it agnostic."
Canadian authorities have said they would prefer that the kidnapped man in the video not be identified while negotiations to secure his release continue.
In February, however, Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that a 26-year-old man from Toronto had been kidnapped.
Foreign Affairs said the man had travelled to Afghanistan as a tourist, despite warnings from the department that all Canadians avoid travel to Afghanistan. At the time, Foreign Affairs said it was working with Afghan authorities to secure the release of the captive.
It is unclear what demands have been given to Canadian officials to secure the man's release. Mujahid said the Canadian government was aware of what the Taliban wants.
In the past, the Taliban has freed some hostages after ransoms were paid or as part of prisoner swaps.
A Dutch aid worker and his Afghan driver, abducted by the Taliban in Afghanistan's north last October, were freed in December. Two French television journalists who were kidnapped by the Taliban northeast of Kabul more than a year ago are still being held.
The Taliban has released a video of a Canadian man captured earlier this year in central Afghanistan whom they accuse of being a Canadian spy.
The unidentified man was detained in Ghazni city in February by insurgents who accused him of collecting secret information. The Taliban is threatening to put the man on trial for spying unless Canada's government accepts unspecified demands for his release.
"The evidence and documents found in his possession had shown that he entered Afghanistan for spying purposes and was an active agent, gathering intelligence on the Taliban," said Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the hardline Islamists, in a email sent to news organizations, including the Associated Press.
The man in the video answers questions from an unseen interrogator in a calm voice. He describes himself as an auditor and denies working for the Canadian government.
The man says he had travelled to Afghanistan because he had an interest in its history. When asked about religion, he answers: "I don't have a religion. I guess I'd call it agnostic."
Canadian authorities have said they would prefer that the kidnapped man in the video not be identified while negotiations to secure his release continue.
In February, however, Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that a 26-year-old man from Toronto had been kidnapped.
Foreign Affairs said the man had travelled to Afghanistan as a tourist, despite warnings from the department that all Canadians avoid travel to Afghanistan. At the time, Foreign Affairs said it was working with Afghan authorities to secure the release of the captive.
It is unclear what demands have been given to Canadian officials to secure the man's release. Mujahid said the Canadian government was aware of what the Taliban wants.
In the past, the Taliban has freed some hostages after ransoms were paid or as part of prisoner swaps.
A Dutch aid worker and his Afghan driver, abducted by the Taliban in Afghanistan's north last October, were freed in December. Two French television journalists who were kidnapped by the Taliban northeast of Kabul more than a year ago are still being held.