Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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July 16, 2009

Afghan Taliban Threatens to Kill Captured US Soldier
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=25600B7:A6F02AD83191E1601D6EE86C1F90B2A870AD7039DCD7B7E4&
 
Taliban commander demands end to US military operations in Paktika,
Ghazni provinces 
A Taliban commander in southeastern Afghanistan said he will kill a
captured U.S. soldier unless the U.S. military stops operations in two
provinces. Mawlavi Sangin said Thursday that the soldier is healthy but
threatened to kill him if the U.S. military continues operations in
Paktika and neighboring Ghazni province. A U.S. military spokeswoman,
Captain Elizabeth Mathias, said the military has distributed leaflets in
the two provinces calling for the soldier's safe return. One leaflet
shows an American soldier sitting on the ground and shaking hands with
Afghan children. It asks for the missing "American guest" to be returned
home. But another leaflet shows U.S. soldiers kicking in the door of a
house and says: "If you do not release the U.S. soldier then you will be
hunted."U.S. officials said the soldier was captured late last month
when he left his base camp in Paktika with three Afghans. Meanwhile, the
governor of Kandahar province said a suspected coalition airstrike
killed six civilians and wounded at least 13 others. Afghan officials
are investigating. Separately, NATO officials said Afghan and coalition
forces killed two insurgents in Kunar province and captured four others.
The militants allegedly were responsible for roadside bomb attacks in
the area. In other news, a report from Britain's paramilitary defense
committee said a helicopter shortage is hurting British operations in
Afghanistan. There are some 30 helicopters for Britain's 9,000 troops in
Afghanistan's violent southern Taliban stronghold of Helmand province.
The report said a larger fleet would allow soldiers to travel by air,
instead of on the ground, where they are exposed to roadside bombs.
Fifteen British soldiers have been killed this month, many by roadside
bombs planted by Taliban insurgents. Media outlets reported Thursday
that Britain's top army commander was forced to fly in an American
helicopter when he visited the front lines in Helmand because British
forces!
  could not spare one. British Prime Minister Gordon has repeatedly said
 that British forces have the resources and equipment they need.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.