POLICE ATTACKED, FRENCH HOSTAGE ULTIMATUM POSTPONED

AFGHANISTAN Misna on Ladyslivia; Two Afghan police officers were killed after they were attacked by a suicide bombing claimed by the Taliban in Helmand province; another suicide bomber attacked an American military convoy in the southern province of Paktyika, but it is not clear whether or not there were victims.

Also today, the US command said that in the past few days it has killed about a dozen ’Taliban commanders’ serendipitously including one that had been released by Kabul authorities in exchange for the release of the Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo. Meanwhile, the ultimatum for the release of the French aid worker from the NGO ’Terre d'Enfance’, Eric Damfreville, and his three Afghan assistants, who were kidnapped last April 3, has been moved to the “end of the French elections”, the second round of which takes place tomorrow. The other volunteer kidnapped along with Damfreville, Cèline Cordelier, had been released last April 28. the Taliban have asked France to either withdraw its 1,100 troops or to secure an exchange of prisoners. [AB]