PARIS — Two French journalists held hostage in Afghanistan since December 2009 were freed Wednesday in good health, bringing cheers and joyful tears in France.
Stephane Taponier and Herve Ghesquiere, in captivity for nearly 550 days, were freed along with the journalists’ translator, Reza Din, authorities said.
Two other Afghans held with them were freed earlier, but nothing was said in order to keep negotiations on track, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said.
Ghesquiere, 47, and Taponier, 46, reporters for TV channel France-3, were kidnapped with three Afghan associates while working on a story about reconstruction on a road east of Kabul. They had been embedded with French troops but decided to take off for reporting on their own and were captured.
The Taliban said the insurgency movement was holding them and made a set of demands — never fully published — in exchange for the men’s freedom.
French officials quickly moved to quash questions about whether a ransom was paid for the men’s freedom. Juppe said, “France does not pay ransom.” Still, speculation was widespread that the captors were compensated.
The Associated Press
