Kidnapped French Journalists Freed in Afghanistan

Posted June 29th, 2011 at 11:10 am (UTC-5)
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Two French journalists who were kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2009 have been freed by their captors.

The office of French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday that reporters for France-3 television, Stephane Taponier and Herve Ghesquiere, have been released. Their Afghan translator, Reza Din, was also freed.

The president's office did not give further details.

The journalists, their interpreter, and two other Afghan colleagues were kidnapped in December of 2009 while working on a story about reconstruction east of Kabul. The Taliban said it was behind the abduction.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon told parliament Wednesday that the two journalists are in good health and will be on French soil in a matter of hours.

President Sarkozy praised Afghan President Hamid Karzai for his handling of the situation and thanked others involved in securing the hostages' freedom.