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Taliban issue 'US soldier video' US soldier shown in Taliban video
(about 1 hour later)
The Taliban have released a 28-minute video purportedly showing a US soldier captured in Afghanistan last month. The Taliban have released a 28-minute video showing a US soldier captured in Afghanistan last month.
In the video, the soldier, in grey clothes and with shaved head, says being a prisoner is "unnerving".In the video, the soldier, in grey clothes and with shaved head, says being a prisoner is "unnerving".
He says the US public has the power to bring US troops home to be "back where we belong and not over here, wasting our time and our lives".He says the US public has the power to bring US troops home to be "back where we belong and not over here, wasting our time and our lives".
The Pentagon has yet to authenticate the video and has not released the identity of the man. A US military spokesman in Kabul told Reuters news agency that the man in the video was the missing soldier.
However, the Associated Press news agency says two US defence officials have confirmed the man in the video is the captured soldier. The spokesman condemned the Taliban for issuing "propaganda" footage.
A US military spokesman in Kabul, quoted by Reuters, gave a similar confirmation and condemned the "propaganda" footage. The Pentagon has yet to release the identity of the man.
The captors hold up the soldier's dog tags in the video with his name and ID number visible.
'Scared''Scared'
The soldier went missing on 30 June in eastern Afghanistan. In the video, the captors hold up the soldier's dog tags with his name and ID number visible.
In the video he says the date is 14 July and that he was captured as he lagged behind while on a patrol. The soldier, who went missing on 30 June in eastern Afghanistan, says in the video that the date was 14 July and that he was captured as he lagged behind while on a patrol.
Please bring us home. It is America and American people who have that power Quote from videoPlease bring us home. It is America and American people who have that power Quote from video
However, it is not possible to verify the time and date the video was made.However, it is not possible to verify the time and date the video was made.
The soldier, interviewed in English, says he has "a very, very good family" in America.The soldier, interviewed in English, says he has "a very, very good family" in America.
"I miss them and I'm afraid that I might never see them again, and that I'll never be able to tell them that I love them again, and I'll never be able to hug them," he says."I miss them and I'm afraid that I might never see them again, and that I'll never be able to tell them that I love them again, and I'll never be able to hug them," he says.
When asked about his condition he replies: "Well I'm scared, scared I won't be able to go home. It is very unnerving to be a prisoner."When asked about his condition he replies: "Well I'm scared, scared I won't be able to go home. It is very unnerving to be a prisoner."
A voice off camera asks if he has a message for his "people".A voice off camera asks if he has a message for his "people".
"To my fellow Americans who have loved ones over here, who know what it's like to miss them, you have the power to make our government bring them home," says."To my fellow Americans who have loved ones over here, who know what it's like to miss them, you have the power to make our government bring them home," says.
"Please, please bring us home so that we can be back where we belong and not over here, wasting our time and our lives and our precious life that we could be using back in our own country."Please, please bring us home so that we can be back where we belong and not over here, wasting our time and our lives and our precious life that we could be using back in our own country.
"Please bring us home. It is America and American people who have that power.""Please bring us home. It is America and American people who have that power."
US military spokesman in Kabul, Capt Jon Stock, condemned the use of the video.US military spokesman in Kabul, Capt Jon Stock, condemned the use of the video.
He told Reuters: "The use of the soldier for propaganda purposes we view as against international law.He told Reuters: "The use of the soldier for propaganda purposes we view as against international law.
"We are continuing to do whatever possible to recover the soldier safe and unharmed.""We are continuing to do whatever possible to recover the soldier safe and unharmed."
The US military said the soldier disappeared after walking off base with three Afghan colleagues.The US military said the soldier disappeared after walking off base with three Afghan colleagues.
He is believed to be the first soldier seized in either Iraq or Afghanistan for at least two years.He is believed to be the first soldier seized in either Iraq or Afghanistan for at least two years.