4 abducted mine sweepers found dead; 3 NATO troops killed in Afghanistan

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Roadside bombs, AfghanistanAt least four of the 28 minesweepers who were abducted four days ago by unknown gunmen in western Afghanistan have been found, dead local officials said Sunday, as a wave of attacks across the country killed three NATO soldiers.

The workers belonged to the United Nations-supported Demining Agency for Afghanistan, a local non-governmental organization based in Kabul and which operates all over the country.

They were kidnapped in Bala Blok, in Farah province, four days ago and taken to unknown locations.

"We have received the body of one person so far who was beheaded, who was buried today by his family", Rohull Ameen, Farah's governor, told McClatchy.

There was no immediate responsibility for the kidnapping, but Taliban insurgents often target workers affiliated with government or international organizations.

"Our reports say that four other bodies whose faces are not recognizable also have been seen in the district, but our security departments are working to find out if these are the bodies of the mine sweepers", Ameen said.

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