Backlash grows over rescue of Irish reporter

CRITICISM mounted yesterday of the dramatic airborne rescue from Taliban territory of a kidnapped Irish journalist who walked free as four others, including his Afghan colleague, were killed.

Negotiators were deep in talks with the Taliban to free New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell and appeared to be progressing well when British commandos intervened with the rescue operation.

Farrell, who has dual Irish-British nationality, was freed unharmed, but his Afghan colleague, father-of-two Sultan Munadi, as well as a British soldier and an Afghan woman and child were killed.