Two reporters held hostage in Afghanistan are freed
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Two french journalists held hostage in Afghanistan since December 2009 were freed yesterday in good health.
France-3 television announced on air that the network's reporters Stéphane Taponier and Herve Ghesquiere had been released. President Nicolas Sarkozy later thanked "everyone who participated in freeing the hostages" and praised Afghan President Hamid Karzai for his management of the situation, without providing further details. The reporters' translator, Reza Din, was also released.
The Prime Minister, François Fillon, said the two men would be returning shortly to France.
The television journalists were kidnapped together with three Afghan associates while working on a story about reconstruction on a road east of Kabul. The Taliban said the insurgency movement was holding them and made a set of demands – never fully published – in exchange for the men's freedom.
It was not immediately known what led to their freedom after some 18 months of near silence. It is a French government policy not to pay ransom in exchange for hostages and French authorities have made it a policy to refuse all comment on delicate hostage negotiations.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments