Afghan Rebels Let Russian Captives Vote

Seven Russians held hostage in Afghanistan since August were allowed by their captors to take part in voting for their new president, Russia’s Interfax news agency said Saturday.

Interfax said the crew of a cargo plane seized by the rebel Islamic Taliban militia 10 months ago had been taken to the city of Qandahar to vote.

The Russian government has failed in all its attempts to free the crew of the chartered plane, which was carrying ammunition for government forces fighting against the Taliban.

“This is a result of goodwill shown by both sides,” said Vasily Likhachev, vice president of the republic of Tatarstan, where the plane was registered.