KABUL, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Police have busted a gang of kidnappers in Kandahar, the birthplace of Taliban militants in south Afghanistan, a press release of Interior Ministry said Sunday.

    "Police arrested five kidnappers from Kandahar and rescued two children from their custody," the press release said.

    The kidnappers had demanded 200,000 U.S. dollars as ransom for the release of the innocent children.

    Kidnapping for ransom and targeting businessmen in the neighboring Herat province had triggered series of peaceful demonstrations last month.