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Taleban free Italian journalist Taleban free Italian journalist
(about 1 hour later)
An Italian journalist kidnapped in Afghanistan by the Taleban has been freed, Italy's foreign ministry says. An Italian journalist kidnapped by the Taleban in Afghanistan two weeks ago has been released.
Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who works for La Repubblica, was held for two weeks. Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said he was in good health in hospital. Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said Daniele Mastrogiacomo was in good health in hospital in Afghanistan.
The Taleban said earlier this month that they had captured Mr Mastrogiacomo and two Afghan nationals in the southern province of Helmand. Mr Mastrogiacomo, who works for the La Repubblica daily, was seized with two Afghans in southern Helmand province.
They had said they would release him if Italian troops left Afghanistan. He was trying to interview senior Taleban officials at the time. Reports that the Taleban killed one of the Afghans have not been confirmed.
An Italian foreign ministry spokesman said Mr Mastrogiacomo, 52, had spoken by telephone to Italy's ambassador in Kabul to confirm his release, AFP news agency reported. The fate of the other is still unclear.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said the release was "not simple". Strength
He told reporters that Mr Mastrogiacomo was "in good health" at a hospital in southern Afghanistan run by an Italian aid group. The Taleban had said they would free the journalist if Italian troops left Afghanistan.
"I'm very happy, I thank you all. I knew you wouldn't abandon me, and that gave me strength and courage," Mr Mastrogiacomo said on Monday via La Repubblica's online television station.
The Italian prime minister said the release had not been "simple" and that more details would be released later.
Fears for Mr Mastrogiacomo's safety grew last week when reports said the journalist's Afghan driver, a father of four, had been killed.
Shortly afterwards, a tape was released in which the journalist said he had just two days to live.
Contacts to negotiate his freedom intensified, culminating in his handover to Italian representatives on Monday.
One Taleban leader, military commander Mullah Dadullah, told Reuters by satellite phone from an undisclosed location that Mr Mastrogiacomo had been freed after Afghan authorities released five senior Taliban officials, including his own brother.
There has been no official confirmation.