WASHINGTON, July 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department confirmed Thursday that Afghan authorities are holding three American citizens.
Spokesman Richard Boucher, who confirmed the detention, refused to disclose the reason for their arrest but media reports indicate they were posing as counter-terrorism officials.
On Wednesday, the U.S. military command in Afghanistan issued a statement saying one of the three - Jonathan K. Idema - was a private citizen and had nothing to do with the U.S. government.
At a briefing at the State Department, Boucher identified another American as Brent Bennett. He refused to disclose the name of the third because he has not signed a Privacy Act Waiver.
Boucher said U.S. consular officers in Kabul visited the men Tuesday and Thursday.
Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali told reporters in Kabul Idema, two other Americans and four Afghans were held following a brief shoot-out at a house in the Afghan capital Monday.
He said Idema was a bounty hunter who claimed to be trailing al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden. Idema also claims to be a former Green Beret and says he helped the Northern Alliance overthrow the Taliban in 2001.
