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| Kidnapped French aid worker freed | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A French aid worker kidnapped by the Taleban in Afghanistan on 3 April has been released in Kandahar province, a Taleban spokesman has told the BBC. | A French aid worker kidnapped by the Taleban in Afghanistan on 3 April has been released in Kandahar province, a Taleban spokesman has told the BBC. |
| The Red Cross has confirmed the news, saying Eric Damfreville was handed over to them on Friday evening. | The Red Cross has confirmed the news, saying Eric Damfreville was handed over to them on Friday evening. |
| There is no news on the fate of three Afghans also abducted by the Taleban in south-west Afghanistan. | There is no news on the fate of three Afghans also abducted by the Taleban in south-west Afghanistan. |
| A French woman, Celine Cordelier, who was kidnapped at the same time, was released on 28 April. | A French woman, Celine Cordelier, who was kidnapped at the same time, was released on 28 April. |
| The aid workers were employed by the French group Terre d'enfance (A World for our Children). | The aid workers were employed by the French group Terre d'enfance (A World for our Children). |
| Taleban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf told the BBC Pashto service that the French man was freed in the Maiwand district of Kandahar, the same area where Ms Cordelier was freed. | Taleban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf told the BBC Pashto service that the French man was freed in the Maiwand district of Kandahar, the same area where Ms Cordelier was freed. |
| Mr Yousuf said the Taleban had freed Mr Damfreville because French President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy intended to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan. | Mr Yousuf said the Taleban had freed Mr Damfreville because French President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy intended to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan. |
| Mr Sarkozy indicated in April he was not committed to keeping French troops in Afghanistan. | Mr Sarkozy indicated in April he was not committed to keeping French troops in Afghanistan. |
| "It was certainly useful that we sent (the troops) in the context of the war against terrorism, but the long-term presence of French troops in that part of the world does not seem to me to be decisive," he said, Reuters news agency reports. | "It was certainly useful that we sent (the troops) in the context of the war against terrorism, but the long-term presence of French troops in that part of the world does not seem to me to be decisive," he said, Reuters news agency reports. |
| The group of five were abducted in Nimroz province. | The group of five were abducted in Nimroz province. |