The UN has made fresh appeals for the release of three of its workers kidnapped three weeks ago in the Afghan capital.
Armed men seized Ms Annetta Flanigan from Co Armagh, Philippine diplomat Mr Angelito Nayan and Ms Shqipe Hebibi of Kosovo on October 28th in the first kidnapping of foreigners in Kabul since the fall of the Taliban three years ago.
An UN spokesman reiterated an appeal from relatives and friends of the three abducted election workers. "Their families, friends and colleagues worry and want them back," Mr Manoel de Almeida e Silva said. "Lito, Shqipe and Annetta also need to be back with their families."
Afghan authorities believe the trio, who helped organise last month's presidential election, have been kept hidden in the Kabul area ever since.
Taliban-linked militants claiming responsibility for the kidnapping have demanded the release of 26 jailed comrades, some of them from US custody. The US military has refused.
The trio are believed to be in the hands of a criminal gang and security forces were manning road blocks around Kabul to prevent them being moved beyond the city.
The UN spokesman declined to comment on whether the motive for the kidnapping was political or mercenary. Afghan officials and diplomats have said negotiations through middlemen have focused on demands for a ransom.
But there has also been speculation that opponents of US-backed interim leader Hamid Karzai, who won a clear majority in the October 9th election, may have instigated the raid.