Afghanistan
Taliban releases video of two kidnapped French journalistsPosted Feb 19 2010
In a video released by the Taliban on Feb. 14, two French journalists who were abducted along with three Afghan colleagues on Dec. 30 called on the French government to continue negotiations for their freedom.
Reuters reported that in the video one of the journalists said, “We have been held prisoner for three weeks and we want the French government to hold negotiations with these people so that we can be released as quickly as possible.”
In the video, the two men maintained they were in good health, both Reuters and Agence France-Presse reported. But according to the BBC, there has been no update on the condition of the three assistants.
In reaction to the video's release, the French government issued a statement in which it urged the media to be responsible in its approach to publicizing the video. “In this type of situation, in consideration of the families of our compatriots and in the interests of their security, discretion is vital,” it said.
The French Foreign Ministry continues to work toward the journalists' release and have begun indirect negotiations with the kidnappers, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said.
The journalists, who work for the French TV channel FR3, were kidnapped in the Kapisa province northeast of Kabul. French troops patrol this area for NATO; the war-torn region houses operating members of the Taliban, as well as other insurgent leaders.