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No 10 defends Afghanistan rescue No 10 defends Afghanistan rescue
(about 1 hour later)
Downing Street has defended the decision to rescue a British journalist kidnapped in Afghanistan, saying it was "the best chance of saving life".Downing Street has defended the decision to rescue a British journalist kidnapped in Afghanistan, saying it was "the best chance of saving life".
The final decision to rescue Stephen Farrell was taken by Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, a spokesman said.The final decision to rescue Stephen Farrell was taken by Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, a spokesman said.
UK forces attempted an earlier rescue but it failed, the BBC has learned. An earlier, unsuccessful, raid took place within earshot of the captives.
The mission in northern Afghanistan left a British paratrooper, an Afghan journalist and two civilians dead.The mission in northern Afghanistan left a British paratrooper, an Afghan journalist and two civilians dead.
'A crowd gathered' The earlier raid was in the wrong location but close enough to alert Mr Farrell's kidnappers, the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner has learned.
The earlier raid, on Tuesday night, was in the wrong location but close enough to alert Mr Farrell's captors, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said. Some Taliban militants were captured. He told the BBC's One O'Clock News: "There was in fact an earlier raid on Tuesday night put in by British forces to a location where they thought he was being held. They were just out, they were slightly wrong, but it was close enough for the Taliban who were holding Stephen Farrell to hear this.
The decision to move in followed consultation with the prime minister and advice from the government's emergency committee Cobra. "They captured some Taliban on the Tuesday night. A decision was then subsequently taken to go in."
Mr Farrell and his Afghan journalist colleague Sultan Munadi, who was killed in the rescue, were kidnapped travelling to Kunduz in the north of the country.
It was over. Sultan was dead. He had died trying to help me, right up to the very last seconds of his life Stephen Farrell Farrell's New York Times blog Kidnapped reporter 'fearless' Reporting from the danger zonesIt was over. Sultan was dead. He had died trying to help me, right up to the very last seconds of his life Stephen Farrell Farrell's New York Times blog Kidnapped reporter 'fearless' Reporting from the danger zones
They were heading to the scene of a Nato air strike on two hijacked fuel tankers. The decision to move in followed consultation with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and advice from the government's emergency committee, Cobra.
Afghan journalists have blamed Nato troops for the death of their colleague, Sultan Munadi, a journalist who was working as a translator for Mr Farrell.
The Afghan journalists have also suggested that the raid was unnecessary because negotiations to free the captives were progressing.
'Enormous repercussions'
Our correspondent said that had been denied by sources in the UK government: "That's not the picture they recognise at all.
I would not leave Afghanistan. I have passed the very darkest times of my country, when there was war and insecurity Sultan Munadi Mr Munadi's New York Times blog
"They say that negotiations were going nowhere and that once they had the location of where he was, given that he was being moved around a lot they needed to move swiftly in this early period.
"The big worry I think for them was that if they didn't go in and he was then moved off and a month later pops up in a Taliban or al Qaeda video in an orange jumpsuit the repercussions would have been enormous."
Writing in the New York Times, Mr Farrell said he thought there had been an earlier attempt to rescue them.
He said: ""On the third night, just before the 3 am meal - Muslims breakfast very early to comply with the Ramadan daytime fast - there was a scare. Aerial activity intensified, and there were loud explosions in nearby fields.
"We and the Taliban, took this as an attempt to free us. They fled with us in minutes, racing across open fields in the dark until they found another refuge."
'Appeared safe'
Mr Farrell and Mr Munadi were kidnapped travelling to Kunduz in the north of the country.
They were heading to the scene of a Nato air strike on two hijacked fuel tankers in which a number of bystanders were killed.
Military insiders have questioned whether going to an area where anger against the West had been caused by the civilian deaths in the Nato strike was wise.Military insiders have questioned whether going to an area where anger against the West had been caused by the civilian deaths in the Nato strike was wise.
A senior Army source told the Daily Telegraph: "When you look at the number of warnings this person had it makes you really wonder whether he was worth rescuing, whether it was worth the cost of a soldier's life.
"In the future, special forces might think twice in a similar situation."
But Mr Farrell, 46, said his Afghan drivers advised him the road "appeared safe".But Mr Farrell, 46, said his Afghan drivers advised him the road "appeared safe".
Flying bullets Civilian deaths
In his blog in the New York Times, he said: "The drivers made a few phone calls and said the road north appeared to be safe until mid to late afternoon.
"It was close to the cut-off point, but if we left immediately we could do it."
En route to see the tankers, the reporters stopped at the hospital where injured Afghanis were being treated. Mr Farrell said there were other Western journalists and aid workers there.
I would not leave Afghanistan. I have passed the very darkest times of my country, when there was war and insecurity Sultan Munadi Mr Munadi's New York Times blog
The following day they visited the site of the strike. Mr Farrell said: "There was no sign of hostility from the crowd, only faces eager to tell a story."
But he added: "A crowd began to gather, time passed and we grew nervous. I do not know how long we were there, but it was uncomfortably long. I am comfortable with the decision to go to the riverbank, but fear we spent too long there."
The pair were captured shortly afterwards, and spent the next four days being moved between safe houses by the Taliban. Mr Farrell said they were treated well.
Meanwhile, a group of Afghan journalists has blamed Nato troops for the death of Mr Munadi, who was working as a translator, and criticised them for leaving his body behind.
The Media Club of Afghanistan also questioned whether other ways of resolving the hostage situation had been exhausted.
But former special forces soldier Hugh McManners told the BBC casualties were, sadly, "part and parcel" of these kinds of operations.
'Crossfire'
He said: "We don't know how the people were killed, whether it was the Taliban or some sort of crossfire incident, we simply don't know.
"The point is they went in, the journalist was rescued and they got out again."
Two Afghan civilians also died in the Nato raid, a local governor told the BBC.Two Afghan civilians also died in the Nato raid, a local governor told the BBC.
Vincent Brossell from Reporters Without BordersVincent Brossell from Reporters Without Borders
A resident of Char Dara district in Kunduz province, Mohammad Nabi, reportedly said his brother's wife was killed when his home was raided.A resident of Char Dara district in Kunduz province, Mohammad Nabi, reportedly said his brother's wife was killed when his home was raided.
The Taliban had turned up there on Tuesday night with their two captives, demanding shelter, Mr Nabi told Reuters.The Taliban had turned up there on Tuesday night with their two captives, demanding shelter, Mr Nabi told Reuters.
Mr Farrell has thanked the soldiers who saved him, saying "It wasn't, and never will be, enough".Mr Farrell has thanked the soldiers who saved him, saying "It wasn't, and never will be, enough".
He also paid tribute to his colleague Mr Munadi, who died "trying to help me".He also paid tribute to his colleague Mr Munadi, who died "trying to help me".
He said: "I did not know whether the bullets came from in front, to his right or to his left," he said.He said: "I did not know whether the bullets came from in front, to his right or to his left," he said.
"It was over. Sultan was dead. He had died trying to help me, right up to the very last seconds of his life.""It was over. Sultan was dead. He had died trying to help me, right up to the very last seconds of his life."
This is the second time Mr Farrell has been abducted while on assignment - in 2004 he was kidnapped in the Iraqi city of Falluja while working for London's Times newspaper.This is the second time Mr Farrell has been abducted while on assignment - in 2004 he was kidnapped in the Iraqi city of Falluja while working for London's Times newspaper.
Journalist Stephen Grey, who has worked in Afghanistan, said Mr Farrell was a fearless reporter.
"He is the sort of person who realises that you have to get out of your comfort zone beyond the wire in order to work out the truth."