Afghan paper urges execution of Taliban prisoners

The Mastrogiacomo deal was widely criticized in Italy and Afghanistan. Security experts said it would trigger more abductions of foreigners.

Last week, two French aid workers -- a man and a woman -- were kidnapped along with three Afghan colleagues in rugged, lawless Nimroz province between Iran and Afghanistan's opium heartland of Helmand province.

On Friday, Karzai said he had come under pressure from Rome to approve a deal to win the journalist's release but ruled out any more prisoner swaps with the Taliban.

The Taliban are also holding five Afghan health officials and have demanded the release of more rebels.

"We have set an April 15 deadline. If the government fails to release our people by this time, we'll kill him," Atal told Reuters, referring to one of the five hostages.

"If the Afghan government does not start negotiations immediately, we'll kill one of the five abducted medical officials," he said by phone from an undisclosed location.

One of the officials is a cousin of the governor of eastern Nangahar province, a Karzai ally.

(With additional reporting by Saeed Ali Achackzai)