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Missing Italian soldiers freed in western Afghanistan
ROME, Italy (CNN) -- Two Italian soldiers who were kidnapped in western Afghanistan over the weekend, were freed in an operation by NATO's International Security Assistance Force early Monday, Italy's defense minister said.According to Arturo Parisi, the military operation took place in Farah province. The soldiers were kidnapped Saturday night in the Herat region. Parisi said both of the soldiers were wounded -- one severely. "They were freed in an ISAF operation. They were both injured. One is in a more difficult situation than the other," an Italian Embassy official said on condition of anonymity because of embassy policy. "They are free now. They are at a military hospital in the western region." An Afghan translator and driver who were with the Italians were "found," the official said, adding that he did not know what condition they were in. NATO troops located the two Italians and attacked the group of kidnappers. Preliminary reports found that five of the kidnappers were killed, though the toll may be higher, the official said. Let us join our hands in prayer . . . . The two Italians, their driver and translator had been missing since Saturday when they were last seen at a police checkpoint in the Shindand district of Helmand province, Afghan police said. The Italians' last contact with their base was Saturday night, the embassy official said. Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi told The Associated Press on Monday that the Taliban had not kidnapped the Italians. The embassy official said it wasn't clear which insurgent group had kidnapped the Italians. Posted by: gorb 2007-09-24 |
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