Italy has been plunged into a fresh Afghanistan hostage row after the Taliban on Easter Sunday murdered the interpreter who shared an Italian journalist's captivity last month, local media reported Tuesday.

Adjmal Nashkbandi was the second Afghan working with Italian daily La Repubblica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo who has been killed by the Islamists, the report said.

Mastrogiacomo, who was kidnapped by Taliban from March 5 to 19, saw his driver Sayed Hagha beheaded on March 16 as Rome's efforts to free the journalist intensified thanks to the mediation of war doctor Gino Strada and his emergency organization.

Mastrogiacomo was eventually freed after President Karzai agreed to free five Talibans.

It was Strada who sparked the latest row by accusing Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and Afghan President Hamid Karzai of not doing enough to save Nashkbandi.

He branded them "accomplices" in the interpreter's death.

Strada also revealed that Italy had paid a two-million-dollar ransom for a photojournalist held by the Taliban for three weeks in November.

Prodi reacted to Strada's criticism by saying Italy had done " everything possible" for Nashkbandi.

On Sunday and Monday Italian center-right opposition demanded a probe into Italian hostage policy, railing against Prodi.

They even went as far as calling for the prime minister to resign.

At least four Italians have been released in Iraq amid claims -- always denied -- that big ransoms were paid, the report said.

Source: Xinhua