AFGHANISTAN: Embracing her fellow kidnap survivors and in a voice crackling with emotion, UN official Ms Annetta Flanigan spoke of joyful relief yesterday, but offered no explanation for their release, reports Declan Walsh in Quetta
Speaking on behalf of Mr Angelito Nayan, from the Philippines, and Ms Shqipe Hebibi, Kosovo, the Co Armagh woman spoke of the "awful experience" of their 27-day captivity, which ended in Kabul at dawn on Tuesday morning.
But their warmth towards Afghans, some of whom offered to take their place as hostages, remained undiminished. "We are humbled and very, very grateful for this," the 43-year-old lawyer said.
The UN election officials were abducted in the street on October 28th.
They met President Hamid Karzai yesterday. Echoing widespread revulsion at the abductions, Mr Karzai said: "This goes against the very nature of Afghan hospitality." The former hostages left the presidential palace with gifts.
The Filipino diplomat left Afghanistan yesterday, while Ms Flanigan and Ms Hebibi are expected to leave shortly.
The resolution of the hostage crisis boosted hopes for Afghanistan's fragile transition to peace. But within hours, news of fresh Taliban attacks offered a reminder of the continuing insurgent threat.
Two US soldiers were killed and one wounded after a roadside bomb destroyed their vehicle. The Taliban killed an Afghan official and his two bodyguards elsewhere.
Many questions about the kidnapping remained unanswered yesterday, most notably whether a ransom was paid to secure the UN hostages' release. The Afghan government insisted no deal had been struck. It said the hostages had been snatched by a "criminal gang" working on contract for the fundamentalists. - (Guardian Service)