Journalist forced to watch decaptiation

ROME, March 20 (UPI) -- An Italian journalist held hostage in Afghanistan for more than two weeks says he was forced to witness the death of his Afghan driver.

La Repubblica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who was freed on Monday, said he watched while 25-year-old Saied Agha was decapitated by the side of a river.

Mastrogiacomo, Agha and Afghan interpreter Adjmal Nashkbandi were arrested March 5 near the southern city of Lashkar Gah, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Mastrogiacomo also was threatened with death, La Repubblica said.

ANSA said five Taliban militants were freed in exchange for Mastrogiacomo's freedom.

Nashkbandi was believed to have been released at the same time as Mastrogiacomo but he never showed up at the Lashkar Gah hospital where Mastrogiacomo was taken by his captors, ANSA said.