I’m fine, says freed journalist

British journalist Yvonne Ridley tonight spoke of her delight at being freed by her Taliban captors - and her desperation to get home to see her daughter Daisy.

After crossing the border into Pakistan, the 43-year-old Sunday Express reporter said: ‘‘I’m fine, it’s good to be here. They (the Taliban) treated me with respect and courtesy.’’

And in a statement released by Express Newspapers the mother-of-one said: ‘‘Obviously I am delighted to be free after 10 days under arrest.

‘‘I would like to thank all those who have worked for my release, including the Foreign Office, the Pakistan government and of course my company Express Newspapers.

‘‘I am now desperate to get home to see my daughter Daisy.’’

TV pictures showed Ms Ridley apparently in good health and good spirits as she climbed from a car.

It was the first sighting of her since her arrest by Taliban authorities on September 28 after she crossed into Afghanistan to report on the crisis.

Prime Minister Tony Blair told the House of Commons that Ms Ridley had been released and handed over to Pakistani officials.

And Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said: ‘‘I am delighted that Yvonne Ridley has been released from custody in Afghanistan, and can now be reunited with her family.

‘‘I know what a great relief this must be for them, especially at such a difficult and uncertain time.

‘‘I am sure that Yvonne’s many friends and journalist colleagues in the UK and all around the world will welcome this news as much as I do.’’

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: ‘‘Our High Commission in Islamabad have confirmed that Yvonne Ridley is at the office of senior Pakistani officials in Peshawar.

‘‘Consular officials are meeting her there and will give her all assistance she requires.’’

Martin Townsend, editor of the Sunday Express, said: ‘‘We are delighted to hear that Yvonne is safe in Pakistan although we won’t be celebrating until she is back safe on British soil.

‘‘Our thoughts are still with the eight aid workers held captive in Afghanistan. We hope and pray to see their early release.’’

Ms Ridley entered Pakistan at the Torkhum border crossing at the foot of the Khyber Pass, according to tribal authorities at the scene.

She was accompanied to the Afghan side of the border by officials and met there by Pakistani authorities. There were no British officials awaiting her at the crossing, tribal officials said.

Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, was earlier reported as saying Ms Ridley had been freed from the Afghan capital Kabul at noon local time.

Earlier today, Ms Ridley’s mother Joyce, from Pelton, Co Durham, condemned the US and British governments for delaying her daughter’s release by launching Sunday night’s attacks.

Mrs Ridley said: ‘‘She was coming home, my Yvonne was a free woman.

‘‘The British government said she was coming home. Why then could they not delay the bombing for a few hours? I just cannot accept that.’’

She said the Taliban had agreed to transport her daughter to the border at sunrise today.

‘‘With the start of the military action last night our anticipated joy immediately turned to dismay.’’

Ms Ridley was seized near the north eastern city of Jalalabad on September 28 after travelling to the region with two local guides.

She was held in solitary confinement in a house for her first seven days in captivity before being moved to a prison in Kabul.

She was not carrying her passport and it had been feared she would be tried on possible espionage charges.

But after intensive diplomacy by consular staff at the British High Commission and staff from Express Newspapers, the Taliban authorities announced her release on Sunday.