Afghan Taliban claims killing of foreign doctors

The Taliban said Saturday they had killed "Christian missionaries" working in remote northern Afghanistan where the bullet-riddled bodies of two American and six German doctors were found.

The police chief in northern Badakhshan province said the group of foreign eye doctors had been lined up and shot in dense forest, according to the testimony of a sole Afghan survivor. The Taliban later claimed responsibility.

"Yesterday at around 8am, one of our patrols confronted a group of foreigners. They were Christian missionaries and we killed them all," said Zabihullah Mujahed, a spokesman for the Taliban.

The International Assistance Mission, which describes itself as an "international charitable, non-profit, Christian organization" helping Afghans with health and economic development since 1966, said it appeared those killed were part of its eye care team.

"It is likely that they are members of the International Assistance Mission (IAM) eye camp team," said the organization in a statement on their website.

"If these reports are confirmed we object to this senseless killing of people who have done nothing but serve the poor," it said.

"This tragedy negatively impacts our ability to continue serving the Afghan people ... We hope it will not stop our work that benefits over a quarter of a million Afghans each year," the statement added.

Mujahed said the group consisted of five men and four women foreigners, and one Afghan national, but provincial police chief Aqa Noor Kintoz said there were only three female foreigners and three Afghans among them.

The Taliban spokesman said the group had been lost in the forest and were killed as they tried to escape.

"They were carrying Persian language bibles, a satellite-tracking device and maps," he said.

Yesterday at around 8am, one of our patrols confronted a group of foreigners. They were Christian missionaries and we killed them all

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed

Escaped by reading Quran

Kintoz said they were shot by armed men in a remote area of Badakhshan province, according to the testimony of "Saifullah", an Afghan who survived.

The group of eight ophthalmologists had been travelling with three Afghans between Badakhshan and Nuristan provinces and spent a few nights in the forest, he reported Saifullah as saying.

"On the last day they were confronted by a group of armed men who lined them up and shot them. Their money and belongings were all stolen," said Kintoz.

He said that according to Saifullah's testimony he had escaped death by reading verses of the Quran, prompting the men to realize he was a Muslim and release him in neighboring Nuristan province.

The police chief said local villagers had warned the group not to enter the dangerous forested area, but they had insisted they would be safe because they were doctors, according to Saifullah's statement.

He said the bodies had been found in Kuran wa Minjan district, an area on the border with Nuristan province, one day's drive from the provincial capital Faizabad.

A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said "several" American citizens were believed to be among the dead, found on Friday, but could not give further details.

"We have reason to believe that several American citizens are among the deceased.... (We) are actively working with local authorities and others to learn more about the identities and nationalities of these individuals," the spokeswoman said.

There was no immediate response from German authorities.

June was the bloodiest month for foreign forces in Afghanistan since then, with more than 100 killed.

Hundreds of Afghan civilians have also been killed this year as they become caught up in the crossfire. It was not immediately clear why the group was in an area known to be frequented by the Taliban and other insurgent groups such as the Haqqani network.

We have reason to believe that several American citizens are among the deceased.... (We) are actively working with local authorities and others to learn more about the identities and nationalities of these individuals

US Embassy spokeswoman