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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Taleban free German and Afghans | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A German engineer and four Afghans held hostage in southern Afghanistan for nearly three months have been freed, German and Afghan officials say. | A German engineer and four Afghans held hostage in southern Afghanistan for nearly three months have been freed, German and Afghan officials say. |
| Rudolf Blechschmidt was in the custody of the Afghan authorities, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a statement. | Rudolf Blechschmidt was in the custody of the Afghan authorities, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a statement. |
| He and the four Afghans were handed over to officials in Wardak province. | He and the four Afghans were handed over to officials in Wardak province. |
| They were seized by the Taleban on 18 July along with another German man, who later died during the ordeal. | They were seized by the Taleban on 18 July along with another German man, who later died during the ordeal. |
| Kidnappings have soared in Afghanistan in recent months, where foreign and Afghan troops are battling the Taleban. | Kidnappings have soared in Afghanistan in recent months, where foreign and Afghan troops are battling the Taleban. |
| 'Relieved' | 'Relieved' |
| Mr Steinmeier said the German ambassador in the Afghan capital, Kabul, had spoken to Mr Blechschmidt by telephone, Reuters news agency reports. | Mr Steinmeier said the German ambassador in the Afghan capital, Kabul, had spoken to Mr Blechschmidt by telephone, Reuters news agency reports. |
| "We are all pleased and relieved," Mr Steinmeier said in his statement in Berlin. | |
| Shortly after they abducted the Germans, the Taleban said they had killed both men because Germany had ignored a demand to withdraw its 3,000 troops from Afghanistan. | Shortly after they abducted the Germans, the Taleban said they had killed both men because Germany had ignored a demand to withdraw its 3,000 troops from Afghanistan. |
| But in August Mr Blechschmidt appealed for help in a video broadcast on a private Afghan television channel. | But in August Mr Blechschmidt appealed for help in a video broadcast on a private Afghan television channel. |
| He was seen lying on a sheet on the ground, clutching his chest and coughing on the video. | He was seen lying on a sheet on the ground, clutching his chest and coughing on the video. |
| The other German was found dead on 21 July. One Afghan who was also seized managed to escape. | The other German was found dead on 21 July. One Afghan who was also seized managed to escape. |
| It is not clear exactly what led to Wednesday's releases. | |
| The chief of Jaghato district in Wardak province, Mohammad Nahim, said six detained Taleban fighters had been released in the swap, the Associated Press news agency reported. | |
| Correspondents say kidnap has become a tactic the insurgents have been using more and more regularly in Afghanistan. |