By Phil Stewart
ROME (Reuters) - The United States and Britain criticized Italy's hostage deal with the Taliban on Wednesday, saying the release of five guerrillas in exchange for an Italian reporter put NATO troops in danger and encouraged kidnappings.
A senior U.S. administration official said Washington had formally complained to Rome through diplomatic channels for putting pressure on Kabul to release the Taliban, adding the deal "caught the U.S. by surprise".
A spokeswoman at the British Foreign Office said the deal sent "the wrong signal to prospective hostage-takers".
Italy, which has 1,900 troops under NATO command in Afghanistan, confirmed on Wednesday that five Taliban had been released and said this was in exchange for the freeing on Monday of reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo, held for two weeks by the Taliban.
A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said only the Afghan government made the deal "in recognition of the friendship with Italy".
The U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the release of five "dangerous Taliban operatives" would not have been approved by Washington.
"We did not and do not approve of concessions to terrorists," the official told Italian reporters in Washington, in comments confirmed to Reuters in Rome. "(The concessions) increase the risk to NATO and Afghan troops and the Afghan people." Continued...
Location of Helmand Province within Afghanistan where Daniele Mastrogiacomo was taken hostage.
Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo who was held hostage for 15 days, was traded for five Taliban prisoners, as confirmed by Italian and Afgani authorities.

This likely represents the first time during the Iraq War or War in Afghanistan that prisoners were openly exchanged for a hostage. An Afghani government source said the swap "was an exceptional measure taken because we value our relations and friendship with Italy."

The move received sharp criticism from allies of Italy. In Washington, a senior State Department official said the United States was pleased the journalist had been released unharmed, but was troubled by possible ramifications of the swap. A spokesperson at the  said the deal sent "the wrong signal to prospective hostage-takers".

,  spoke against the swap, "When we create situations where you can buy the freedom of Taliban fighters when you catch a journalist, in the short term there will be no journalists anymore."
 
The international backlash is the latest headache for Italian Prime Minister , who has fought hard to keep troops in Afghanistan despite resistance from  within his centre-left coalition.

Prodi briefly resigned last month after a defeat in the  over his foreign policy, including Afghanistan, and needs the Senate next week to approve a refinancing of the mission.

An opinion poll published by Mastrogiacomo's newspaper, '''', showed that 51 percent of Italians surveyed supported the exchange, while 41 percent opposed it.