国际英语新闻：2 U.S. soldiers missing in Afghanistan's Logar province, Taliban claim taking hostage

KABUL, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. soldiers went missing in Logar province 60 km south of Afghan capital Kabul on Friday, locals said on Saturday.

"These two soldiers went missing since Friday from Charkh district," a resident of Logar province who declined to be identified told Xinhua.

Another resident of Logar province also confirmed the incident.

On the other hand, U.S. military press department in Logar province when approached by Xinhua's reporter, said he would check and call back.

Meantime, a Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in talks with media via telephone from an unknown location claimed responsibility for their abduction and said, "Taliban fighters captured two U.S. soldiers with two cameras and two assault rifles from Charkh district on Friday."

This is the third American soldiers have been captured by Taliban. Previously the militants captured a U.S. soldier from eastern Paktia province in 2009.