Iranian engineers abducted in Afghanistan

By the CNN Wire Staff

April 19, 2011 -- Updated 0445 GMT (1245 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Press TV and Fars say Iranian engineers were kidnapped, but differ on how many
• Fars also reports that five Afghan nationals were taken
• Kidnappings in Afghanistan are common

(CNN) -- At least seven Iranian engineers have been kidnapped in western Afghanistan, Iranian media reported on Monday, citing officials.
Iran's state-run Press TV said that seven engineers were kidnapped, while the semi-official Fars News Agency said that 12 Iranian engineers were taken, in addition to five Afghan nationals.
It was not immediately clear which, if either report was correct. CNN could not independently confirm the details.
The engineers had been working with a construction company and were building a training center for the Afghan police, Fars reported, citing Naqibollah Farahi, spokesman for the governor of Afghanistan's Farah province.
"These individuals were abducted with their two cars in the Hassan-Abad region of this province yesterday afternoon," Fars reported Farahi said.
Press TV reported the kidnappings took place on Monday.

Abductions are common in Afghanistan, for ransoms and for political and criminal reasons.