A massive manhunt is under way in the Afghan capital, Kabul, where unidentified gunmen abducted three foreign election workers in broad daylight Thursday.
Afghan and NATO security forces have fanned out across the city, setting up roadblocks and searching homes. The three victims -- a British-Irish woman, one from Serbia's Kosovo province and a Philippine diplomat -- were seized at gunpoint, as they drove in a marked United Nations vehicle.
The victims are members of a team that organized Afghanistan's presidential election earlier this month. A group calling itself "Army of Muslims" claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, but did not make public any demands.
U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said U.N. officials were in close contact with local authorities, and hoping for the "immediate and unconditional" release of the hostages.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.