American U.N. official kidnapped in Pakistan said sick

[Coventina]

Source: Reuters

QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) - The United Nations is very concerned about the health of an American U.N. official kidnapped in Pakistan last month and wants him released as soon as possible, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

Kidnappers holding the official with the U.N. refugee agency, John Solecki, said he was seriously ill with a cardiac problem and authorities should act on their demands to release prisoners.

"We are very concerned that his health condition is deteriorating and we would really like him to be released as soon as possible," said Jennifer Pagonis, a U.N. spokeswoman in Islamabad.

Solecki, 49, head of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Baluchistan province, was kidnapped in the provincial capital, Quetta, on February 2 when gunmen ambushed his car and shot dead his driver.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE52G21Y20090317