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UK reporter freed in Afghan raid UK reporter freed in Afghan raid
(22 minutes later)
A UK journalist abducted in Afghanistan has been freed by Nato troops in a pre-dawn raid, an Afghan official has said. A UK journalist abducted in Afghanistan has been freed by Nato troops in a dramatic pre-dawn raid.
New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell was kidnapped on Saturday along with Afghan interpreter Sultan Munadi while investigating a Nato air strike.New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell was kidnapped on Saturday along with Afghan interpreter Sultan Munadi while investigating a Nato air strike.
The translator was killed by Taliban fighters during the operation. Mr Munadi was killed during the rescue operation.
Mr Farrell, who has dual British-Irish nationality, said he was "extracted" by "a lot of soldiers" after a fierce firefight, the New York Times reported. Farrell, who holds dual British-Irish nationality, said he was "extracted" by "a lot of soldiers" after a fierce firefight, the New York Times reports.
Special forces Farrell, 46, had travelled to Kunduz in northern Afghanistan to investigate an air strike last Friday on two hijacked fuel tankers, in which dozens of civilians reportedly died.
Farrell had travelled to Kunduz in northern Afghanistan to investigate an air strike last Friday on two hijacked fuel tankers. Special forces?
Dozens of civilians reportedly died when German commanders called in a US jet to bomb the tankers.
The newspaper's website reported he phoned the foreign editor of the newspaper at about 0030 BST (2330 GMT) on Wednesday and said: "I'm out! I'm free." Farrell said he also called his wife.The newspaper's website reported he phoned the foreign editor of the newspaper at about 0030 BST (2330 GMT) on Wednesday and said: "I'm out! I'm free." Farrell said he also called his wife.
Some reports from Afghanistan suggest that British special forces were involved in the rescue, but the UK defence ministry declined to comment. The Talibs all ran, it was obviously a raid, we thought they would kill us, there were bullets all around Stephen Farrell class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/3610521.stm">UK journalist 'kidnapped' in Iraq
A spokeswoman told the BBC: "It was a Nato operation, we do not comment on special forces." Some reports from Afghanistan suggest that British special forces were involved in the rescue.
In 2004 the journalist was kidnapped in the Iraqi city of Falluja while working for the London Times newspaper. But a UK defence ministry spokeswoman told the BBC: "It was a Nato operation, we do not comment on special forces."
It is not the first time Farrell has been abducted while on assignment - in 2004 he was kidnapped in the Iraqi city of Falluja while working for the London Times newspaper.
In a telephone call to his newspaper, he said he and his captors had heard helicopters approach before the dramatic rescue.
"We were all in a room, the Talibs all ran, it was obviously a raid," Farrell told the New York Times. "We thought they would kill us. We thought should we go out."
The reporter said he and the interpreter ran outside.
"There were bullets all around us. I could hear British and Afghan voices," he continued.
The correspondent said Mr Munadi advanced shouting: "Journalist! Journalist!" But the translator was shot and collapsed.
Farrell said he did not know whether the shots had been fired by militants or their rescuers.
He said he dived into a ditch and after a minute or two, shouted: "British hostage!"
Farrell then heard British voices telling him to come over and as he did, saw the body of Mr Munadi.
Bill Keller, the executive editor of The New York Times, said: "We're overjoyed that Steve is free, but deeply saddened that his freedom came at such a cost."
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-winning reporter David Rohde and his Afghan colleague were abducted in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and moved across the border to Pakistan from where they escaped.In June, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David Rohde and his Afghan colleague were abducted in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and moved across the border to Pakistan from where they escaped.