Shkup, 13 March 2006 - Four ethnic Albanians, citizens of Macedonia taken hostage in Afghanistan were executed, Western news agencies said, citing Taleban sources. The authorities have not confirmed the claim.

Ecolog company, the contractor compamy the four men worked for, confirmed that four of its employees are held hostage, adding that all of them are Albanian. Three of the hostages are residents of Tetovo and the fourth one is a resident of Skopje.

Taleban spokesman said late Monday the four foreigners were shot dead. "We will kill anyone who is helping the Americans," he told the BBC.

One of the freed Afghans said they had been stopped by a group of 20 men dressed as police as they left Helmand for Kabul on Saturday morning

"They tied our hands and feet and blindfolded us," the man, who did not wish to be named, told the BBC

"They took the Albanians away from us to another location. We heard firing and the Albanians screaming. We couldn't see any thing because our eyes were closed."

Macedonian Interior Ministry confirmed that the hostages are citizens of Macedonia, but it has no official confirmation of their death.

Albanian National Assembly observed a moment of silence in honor of Macedonia's Albanians killed in Afghanistan.

"Albania will continue to be a strong ally of anti-terror forces worldwide," Parliament President Jozefina Topalli said while opening the session late Monday.

Tirana's media said the executed hostages are not Albanian citizens, adding that they are Macedonian citizens with Albanian nationality.

Tirana's media came into contact with Ecolog, the company the four men worked for, and found out the names of killed hostages: Fadil. Z.- resident of Tetovo who is also signatory of the contract between Ecolog and the British Army, Besim A. - resident of Tetovo.

The third victim is Sabri T. from Skopje, whilst the name of the fourth victim was not mentioned, however, Albanian media say he is probably a resident of Tetovo