KABUL, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Sixteen kidnapped Afghan deminers have been released by Taliban militants in the central Ghazni province, the Taliban and an official with a mine-cleaning companytold Xinhua Thursday.

    Nine mine cleaners were freed on Wednesday night, a purported Taliban spokesman Aminullah Atif said from an undisclosed place, adding seven others were released at 5 a.m. (0030 GMT) Thursday.

    One deminer was still being held captive, but he would be released soon, Atif said.

    The deminers were held at different places, so they were freed at different time, he added.

    Engineer Zia, head of a mine-cleaning company, which some hostages were working for, said he was happy to see the 16 deminers were released, adding the last one was expected to get free soon.

    Another purported Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said there was no deal between the group and the Afghan government, adding the hostages were released because the Taliban found they were innocent people.

    Taliban militants have frequently attacked or even killed Afghans working for foreign troops being deployed here.

    Earlier, the police said Taliban militants kidnapped 18 Afghan deminers in Ghazni province on Saturday. But the Taliban said its fighters only took away 17 persons.