Irish Kabul hostage is named
The UN election worker kidnapped in Afghanistan was named locally tonight as Annetta Flanigan, from Richhill, Co Armagh.
Ms Flanagan, along with two other victims from the Balkans and the Phillipines, was taken hostage at gunpoint in the capital Kabul.
Afghan security forces are stopping cars and questioning people in the city.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said that his government is in touch with the woman's family.
Annetta and her husband had planned to return home to Northern Ireland for Christmas.
She was providing technical assistance for parliamentary elections due to be held next April.
But because of the security threat her movements, particularly after dark, were heavily restricted and she travelled around in four-wheel trucks.
It is understood Mrs Flanigan had been in Afghanistan for some time, and according to friends was aware of potential risks.
One said: “She was a very down-to-earth, unassuming, very mild person with a nice sense of humour.
“We hit it off quite well.”
