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Four die in Afghan rescue mission Four die in Afghan rescue mission
(11 minutes later)
Nato soldiers have rescued a kidnapped UK journalist from the Taliban in a dramatic pre-dawn helicopter mission in Afghanistan that left four others dead.Nato soldiers have rescued a kidnapped UK journalist from the Taliban in a dramatic pre-dawn helicopter mission in Afghanistan that left four others dead.
New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell was freed unhurt. His Afghan colleague Sultan Munadi was killed along with a UK soldier and two Afghan civilians.New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell was freed unhurt. His Afghan colleague Sultan Munadi was killed along with a UK soldier and two Afghan civilians.
Mr Farrell, who holds British and Irish nationality, was "extracted" by "a lot of soldiers", the New York Times said.Mr Farrell, who holds British and Irish nationality, was "extracted" by "a lot of soldiers", the New York Times said.
The pair were seized in northern Kunduz province on Saturday.The pair were seized in northern Kunduz province on Saturday.
They were investigating a Nato air strike on two hijacked fuel tankers that left many dead.They were investigating a Nato air strike on two hijacked fuel tankers that left many dead.
There were bullets all around us, I could hear British and Afghan voices Stephen Farrell Kidnap reporter 'fearless' Who are the Taliban? Farrell 'kidnapped' in IraqThere were bullets all around us, I could hear British and Afghan voices Stephen Farrell Kidnap reporter 'fearless' Who are the Taliban? Farrell 'kidnapped' in Iraq
It is not the first time Farrell has been abducted on assignment - in 2004 he was briefly kidnapped in Iraq while working for the London Times newspaper.It is not the first time Farrell has been abducted on assignment - in 2004 he was briefly kidnapped in Iraq while working for the London Times newspaper.
In remarks quoted on the New York Times website, Farrell said the Taliban tried to flee as the helicopters descended.In remarks quoted on the New York Times website, Farrell said the Taliban tried to flee as the helicopters descended.
"There were bullets all around us. I could hear British and Afghan voices," he said."There were bullets all around us. I could hear British and Afghan voices," he said.
The reporter told his newspaper he ran outside with Mr Munadi, reportedly a 34-year-old Afghan father-of-two who was on a break from university studies in Germany. The reporter told his newspaper he ran outside with Mr Munadi, reportedly a 34-year-old father-of-two who was on a break from university studies in Germany.
He said Mr Munadi shouted: "Journalist! Journalist!" But he was shot and collapsed. He said Mr Munadi had shouted "Journalist! Journalist!" before he fell to the ground in a hail of bullets.
Farrell said he did not know whether the shots had been fired by their rescuers or the militants.Farrell said he did not know whether the shots had been fired by their rescuers or the militants.
Afghan police inspect the car from which Stephen Farrell and Sultan Munadi were kidnappedAfghan police inspect the car from which Stephen Farrell and Sultan Munadi were kidnapped
The correspondent said he was beckoned by British voices from a ditch where he had hid, and as he emerged saw the body of Mr Munadi.The correspondent said he was beckoned by British voices from a ditch where he had hid, and as he emerged saw the body of Mr Munadi.
Journalists' angerJournalists' anger
The head of the Afghan Independent Journalists' Association, Rahimullah Samandar, said the raid showed international forces did not care about Afghan reporters.The head of the Afghan Independent Journalists' Association, Rahimullah Samandar, said the raid showed international forces did not care about Afghan reporters.
Mr Samandar said it was not the first time a kidnapped Afghan journalist had been killed while a Western colleague was freed.Mr Samandar said it was not the first time a kidnapped Afghan journalist had been killed while a Western colleague was freed.
Bill Keller, the executive editor of the New York Times, said the newspaper was "overjoyed" at Farrell's release, but "deeply saddened it came at such a cost". Bill Keller, the executive editor of the New York Times, said the newspaper was "overjoyed" at Mr Farrell's release, but "deeply saddened it came at such a cost".
Afghan journalists have condemned the translator's killingAfghan journalists have condemned the translator's killing
A local governor told the BBC two civilians also died in the raid.A local governor told the BBC two civilians also died in the raid.
A resident of Char Dara district in Kunduz province, Mohammad Nabi, reportedly said it was his home that was raided, and that his brother's wife was killed.A resident of Char Dara district in Kunduz province, Mohammad Nabi, reportedly said it was his home that was raided, and that his brother's wife was killed.
The Taliban had turned up there on Tuesday night with the journalist and interpreter, demanding shelter, Mr Nabi told Reuters news agency. The Taliban had turned up there on Tuesday night with their two captives, demanding shelter, Mr Nabi told Reuters news agency.
He said helicopters arrived later and "then the soldiers blew open the door of my house, killing my sister-in-law, and took the reporter away with them".He said helicopters arrived later and "then the soldiers blew open the door of my house, killing my sister-in-law, and took the reporter away with them".
The operation came as the leaders of France, Germany and Britain on Wednesday urged the UN to press ahead with plans to hold a major conference on Afghanistan's future later this year.
Farrell and Mr Munadi were kidnapped in Kunduz province on Saturday while investigating the Nato air strike a day earlier when a German commander called in a US jet to bomb two hijacked fuel tankers.Farrell and Mr Munadi were kidnapped in Kunduz province on Saturday while investigating the Nato air strike a day earlier when a German commander called in a US jet to bomb two hijacked fuel tankers.
Unconfirmed reports have suggested at least 70 civilians died.Unconfirmed reports have suggested at least 70 civilians died.
The New York Times pair were reportedly interviewing villagers at the site of the burned-out trucks when gunfire rang out and a group of armed militants arrived.The New York Times pair were reportedly interviewing villagers at the site of the burned-out trucks when gunfire rang out and a group of armed militants arrived.
Farrell is the second New York Times journalist to be kidnapped in Afghanistan in a year.Farrell is the second New York Times journalist to be kidnapped in Afghanistan in a year.
In June, Pulitzer Prize-winner David Rohde and an Afghan colleague were abducted in Kabul and taken to Pakistan, where they escaped.In June, Pulitzer Prize-winner David Rohde and an Afghan colleague were abducted in Kabul and taken to Pakistan, where they escaped.