Commando Raid Frees British-Irish Reporter in Afghanistan

A bloody battle between NATO commandos and the Taliban has resulted in the freedom of a well-known British-Irish reporter.

Troops freed the reporter, Stephen Farrell who holds dual Irish-British citizenship was abducted on Saturday along with his Afghan colleague Mohammad Sultan Munadi.

The Taliban in northern Afghanistan kidnapped the two men four days ago, while they were investigating a NATO air strike on hi-jacked fuel tankers in a village in the Northern region of Kunduz.

Reports suggest locals had alerted the Taliban to the presence of the men who were quickly kidnapped.

Details of the raid are still emerging, but it is thought that some 60 people were killed during the operation, including a commando and Mr Farrell's colleague and interpreter Mohammad Sultan Munadi, a father of two, who was shot dead as he fled his captors.

Bill Keller, 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. We are doing all we can to learn the details of what happened. Our hearts go out to Sultan's family."

It is the second time Farrell has been abducted while working in the Middle East. In 2004 he was kidnapped in the Iraqi city of Falluja while working for the London Times newspaper.

The New York Times said this morning that the latest kidnapping had been kept secret due to fears over Mr Farrells safety, and that neither they, nor Mr Farrell's family were aware that the "extraction" would take place.

The New York Times reported Farrell had phoned the foreign editor of the newspaper at about 11.30pm last night and said: "I'm out! I'm free." Farrell said he also called his wife.

(DW/GK)