Canada claims abducted citizen in Afghanistan is a tourist, not a spy

Canada claims abducted citizen in Afghanistan is a tourist, not a spy

2011-02-28 09:47:52 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- Canada on late Sunday confirmed that one of its citizens has been abducted in eastern Afghanistan, but rejected a Taliban claim that he is a secret agent.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Canadian national Colin Rutherford of Toronto was captured in Ghazni City, the capital of Ghazni Province. He did not say when Colin was captured.

"[Rutherford] has been involved in some clandestine activities to get some fugitive information, especially to learn about whereabouts of the Mujahideen (Muslim fighters), according to the admission of the suspect," Mujahid said. "Mujahideen gotten some documents out of the suspect describing him as a secret agent."

Emmanuelle Lamoureux, a spokeswoman for the office of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, confirmed that Rutherford had gone missing "after traveling to the country as a tourist." "Canadian officials are working with Afghan authorities to assist the family in securing the safe release of their loved one," Lamoureux said, adding that the Canadian government strongly advises against all travel to Afghanistan.

Although spokespersons for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada said Rutherford had gone to Afghanistan as a tourist, they refused to respond to a question whether he had any connections to the Canadian government. "We understand that Mr. Rutherford was seeking to learn Pashto during his travels," spokeswoman Claude Rochon said.

It was not immediately clear if the Taliban had made any demands for Rutherford's release.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-02-28