THREE UN workers, including Irish woman Annetta Flanigan, held hostage in Afghanistan for nearly four weeks were “abandoned” by their captors in Kabul, officials said yesterday.

UN aid worker Anetta Flanigan is preparing to fly home tonight after she and two other hostages were abandoned by their kidnappers.

The family of a Northern Irish UN worker who was held captive in Afghanistan for nearly four weeks said today they were “overjoyed” at the news of her release.

Here are the key dates in the Afghan kidnapping.

Three UN workers - including Armagh's Annetta Flanigan - who were kidnapped in Afghanistan have been released unharmed after nearly four weeks in captivity, officials said today.

The family of a UN worker held hostage in Afghanistan today pleaded for their daughter’s release as her captors debated whether to carry out a threat of execution.

The UN appealed today to the Taliban-linked kidnappers of three of its staff in Afghanistan to release them in time for a Muslim festival starting this weekend.

Two of three UN workers kidnapped in Afghanistan have been allowed to phone home – one to say she expected to be freed soon – but there was no word of the Irishwoman abducted with them.

Kidnappers threatening to kill a Northern Irish woman in Afghanistan were today awaiting a response to their demand for a prisoner exchange.

Militants threatening to kill three UN hostages - including Armagh woman Annetta Flanigan - said talks were to begin with Afghan and UN officials today, 10 days after the victims were abducted at gunpoint on a street in the capital.

FRESH hopes emerged last night that Dublin-born hostage Margaret Hassan could be released by her abductors.

Militants claiming to hold three UN hostages in Afghanistan, including Annetta Flanigan of Northern Ireland, said tonight they had delayed a decision on their fate.

Militants claiming to hold three United Nations hostages in Afghanistan, including Northern Irish woman Annetta Flanigan who is said to be “seriously ill”, said they would decide today whether to kill them.

AFGHAN militants claiming to hold three UN hostages, including an Irish woman, said talks on demands including the release of Taliban prisoners had broken down yesterday.

Afghan militants claiming to hold three UN hostages, including Irish woman Annetta Flanigan, said talks on demands including the release of Taliban prisoners had broken down today.

A militant group threatening to kill three United Nations hostages including a Northern Irish woman Annetta Flanigan said today it was talking to the Afghan government about its demand to free Taliban prisoners.

Militants threatening to kill three United Nations hostages including a woman from Northern Ireland said today that a noon deadline could be postponed for negotiations on demands that include the world body’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.

MARGARET HASSAN’S sisters yesterday made an emotional appeal for the kidnapped Irish aid worker to be released after viewing a video of their sister in a disturbing new video.

THERE were fears last night Irish UN worker Annetta Flanigan and her fellow hostages may have been taken to separate locations as her captors seek to evade Afghan authorities.

THE second hostage drama involving an Irish citizen took a turn for the worse yesterday when the kidnap gang responsible issued a three-day deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.

Kidnapped Northern Irish UN worker Annetta Flanigan was today featured in a video released by her captors who are demanding the withdrawal of UK troops from Afghanistan.

In the North, prayers have been said for Annetta Flanigan, the Armagh-born woman who is being held hostage in Afghanistan along with two other UN workers.

Roadblocks were set around the Afghanistan capital of Kabul today to search for a Northern Irish UN worker who was kidnapped with two colleagues.

The UN election worker kidnapped in Afghanistan was named locally tonight as Annetta Flanigan, from Richhill, Co Armagh.

BELFAST man Freddie Scappaticci is taking High Court action this week aimed at forcing Northern Ireland’s security minister Jane Kennedy to admit if he is – or is not – the IRA double agent codenamed Stakeknife.

THE alleged IRA agent known as Stakeknife, who categorically denies working for British military intelligence, is not in the custody of the army, the Minister of Defence claimed yesterday.

The alleged IRA agent known as Stakeknife – who categorically denies working for British military intelligence – is not in the custody of the army, the British Minister of Defence claimed today.