Afghan troops free kidnapped UN workers

[Robb]

Source: AP

KABUL, Afghanistan — Troops stormed a Taliban compound Monday and freed five Afghan U.N. staffers who had been held hostage for a month, an operation that left two soldiers and several insurgents dead, an Afghan general said.

The head of Afghan army troops in the north, Gen. Murad Ali Murad, said his troops surrounded the compound in northern Baghlan province and freed the workers who being held in the basement. He said the freed workers appeared healthy.

U.N. officials in Kabul confirmed that their staffers had been freed, but did not provide further details. They had been missing since April 15 when their vehicles were hijacked in Baghlan which has seen increasing Taliban activity over the past year.

Murad said two of his soldiers were killed in the fighting, along with "tens of insurgents."

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD9FOMSMO0

---

Complicated business, hostage rescue. Encouraging that it was an Afghan army operation.

[bemildred]

1. Good job! nt