Taliban frees two reporters after 18 months

TWO French journalists rejoined their families smiling and laughing after 18 months in captivity in Afghanistan at the hands of Taliban Islamists who said they freed the men in a prisoner-swap.

Cameraman Stephane Taponier and reporter Herve Ghesquiere, both 48, stepped into the sunshine at a military airport near Paris, hugged and kissed relatives and shook hands with President Nicolas Sarkozy.

“I’m hungry for freedom, hungry for love, hungry full stop,” Taponier told France 3 television.

The two shed little light on the circumstances of their release, but in Afghanistan, the Taliban said it had freed the men after France agreed to let jailed Taliban commanders out of jail.

Looking relaxed and healthy, the journalists told reporters on the tarmac they had not been mistreated by their captors, but did not enjoy Afghan mountain food and passed the time listening to the radio and doing exercises.

“We were never beaten,” he said, but admitted he had “minor health problems” after his ordeal.

French press citing unnamed officials reported a long negotiation process involving the French secret service, various intermediaries and a network of Taliban leaders.

The two Frenchmen had become the longest-held Western hostages in the nation stricken by the war they were covering when captured in 2009.