Nineteen of 31 Shiite Muslim men abducted in Afghanistan in February were freed on Monday, officials said, adding that the remaining abductees would also be released imminently.

"Nineteen Hazaras who were abducted in February were released today," Zafar Sharif, a district governor in southeastern Ghazni province, told AFP without offering any more details.

A family member of one of the 19 men told AFP he received a call from officials in Ghazni confirming their release.