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Taleban release French aid worker French aid worker thanks Taleban
(about 6 hours later)
The French foreign ministry has confirmed the Taleban has released one of its nationals in Afghanistan. A French aid worker released by the Taleban in Afghanistan has thanked her captors for granting her freedom.
Earlier, the Taleban said one of five people seized three weeks ago - a woman - had been set free in the Kandahar province in the south of Afghanistan. The woman, known only as "Celine", also made an appeal for the release of four other hostages at an emotional news conference in Kabul.
"Today at 1105 (0635 GMT) the French female hostage was released in Maiwand district of Kandahar province," Taleban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told AFP. She was kidnapped more than three weeks ago along with another French citizen and three Afghan colleagues.
The five people - two French, three Afghan - went missing on 3 April. Earlier a Taleban spokesman said they had extended the deadline for the four captives by another week.
In a tearful statement made just hours after her release, Celine told reporters: "I want to thank those who helped me in France and in Afghanistan."
"I thank the Taliban for keeping their promise and delivering me."
In her appeal for the release of the other hostages she said: "Eric is like me - in Afghanistan as a friend".
"Hashim, Rasul and Azrat are Afghans. They are Muslims. They have children waiting for them."
Earlier, Taleban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi announced that Celine had been released in Maiwand district of Kandahar province.
"We have extended the deadline for the French man and three Afghan hostages for another week," Mr Ahmadi said."We have extended the deadline for the French man and three Afghan hostages for another week," Mr Ahmadi said.
Call for withdrawalCall for withdrawal
"French authorities confirm that one of the hostages, who are members of the Terre d'Enfance association, has been released this morning in Afghanistan," the ministry said in a statement. The five, employed by children's non-governmental organisation Terre d'Enfance (A World For Our Children), went missing in Nimroz province, in the south-west of Afghanistan on 3 April.
The five, employed by children's non-government organisation Terre d'Enfance (A World For Our Children), went missing in Nimroz province, in the south-west of Afghanistan.
The French woman was named as Celine and the French male hostage Eric by a Taleban spokesman, the Reuters news agency said.
In an internet statement on 20 April, the Taleban called for French Nato troops to withdraw and for imprisoned rebels to be freed in exchange for the captives.In an internet statement on 20 April, the Taleban called for French Nato troops to withdraw and for imprisoned rebels to be freed in exchange for the captives.
"In case of refusal, action will be taken against them [hostages] promptly," a message on an Arabic-language website said."In case of refusal, action will be taken against them [hostages] promptly," a message on an Arabic-language website said.
The Taleban have carried out a number of kidnappings recently, demanding the release of some of their fighters from prison in return for freeing the hostages.The Taleban have carried out a number of kidnappings recently, demanding the release of some of their fighters from prison in return for freeing the hostages.
The US and UK criticised a recent deal made with the Taleban by Italy and Afghanistan to secure the release of a kidnapped Italian journalist.The US and UK criticised a recent deal made with the Taleban by Italy and Afghanistan to secure the release of a kidnapped Italian journalist.
They say the release of five militants in exchange for Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who was freed in March, endangered Nato troops and encouraged kidnappings.They say the release of five militants in exchange for Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who was freed in March, endangered Nato troops and encouraged kidnappings.