KABUL, March 18 (Reuters) - The Taliban said on Sunday they would recapture an Italian hostage released to tribal elders if the Afghan government refused to meet their final demand.

Earlier, the insurgents said La Repubblica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo and his translator had been freed in southern Afghanistan after Kabul released two of three rebels from jail. The Taliban want the third freed as well in exchange for the reporter's unconditional freedom.

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