Taliban says journalist will be released

The Taliban has told consular officials Yvonne Ridley is to be released, the Foreign Office confirms.

Taliban representatives told the British High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan, they had been informed of the decision by their superiors in Kabul.

But the Taliban is not confirming when the 43-year-old Sunday Express journalist will be released from Afghanistan, a Foreign Office spokeswoman says.

The spokeswoman said: "This is very welcome news. We don't know when she is going to be released so obviously that is the next thing we will be waiting for."

The spokeswoman added: "We have just heard from the High Commission in Islamabad, who have spoken to the Taliban representatives.

"They have told us that they have been informed from Kabul, presumably their leaders there, that Yvonne Ridley will be released. But they cannot confirm the timing or the handling of the release. We haven't got any timing for it all."

Consular staff are now liaising with Pakistani authorities for permission to enter the restricted border zones with Afghanistan where Ms Ridley will be likely to be handed over, the spokeswoman says.