One of the two US soldiers who went missing in Afghanistan was a captive of the Taliban and other had been killed, according to a spokesman for the insurgents.

The Taliban leadership will decide later on the fate of the captive.

This was after two USservicemen were reported missing on Friday after failing to return in a vehicle they had taken from their compound in Kabul.

Local radio broadcast appeals on Friday offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the safe release of the two.

"Early this morning two coalition personnel went missing. They are believed to have been captured by insurgents somewhere in Logar province," the broadcast said.

"They may have been separated from one another or maybe in the process of being moved to another location."

A Taliban spokesman at the time said three ISAF servicemen had been captured but one had died. He did not elaborate.

One was described as about six feet (183 cm) tall weighing 220 lb (100 kg) with blond hair and brown eyes. The other was described as 190 lb (86 kg), bald with a thin moustache. Both men have tattoos, the broadcast said.