Journalists kidnapped, released in Afghanistan

Three journalists, all on assignment for The Guardian, were kidnapped in December 2009 and released after six days, according to the paper. Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, an Iraqi, ad two unnamed Afghan journalists had been planning to interview militants in Afghanistan’s mountainous Kunar province near the border with Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province when they were abducted. The Guardian said it did not know if the kidnappers were attached to any specific group.

The paper said it had last heard by text message from Abdul-Ahad on December 9. “News of the kidnapping was not released in an attempt to ensure the safe return of all three journalists,” the paper said. “Their families and the relevant authorities in the U.K. and Afghanistan were kept informed.”

A spokesman for The Guardian said no further details of the incident were being released to avoid compromising the security of those involved.