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KABUL , Afghanistan — Four aid group workers held hostage in a cavein northeastern Afghanistan were rescued early Saturday by NATO -led forces, according to British and alliance officials. The four, a British woman and Kenyan woman and their two maleAfghan colleagues, were reportedly in good condition. They had beenkidnapped May 22 as they headed to impoverished areas of Badakhshanprovince on horseback during a mission for Medair, a charity groupbased in Switzerland. The rescue occurred shortly after midnight in a remote, forestedarea reportedly inhabited by smugglers and bandits. The provinceborders Tajikistan, China and Pakistan. Abdul Maroof Rasekh, spokesman for the Badakhshan governor, saidNATO and Afghan forces worked together on the 5½-houroperation, in which five of the captors were killed. There were noimmediate reports of injuries among rescue team members. The coalition led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization said ina statement that a rescue helicopter approached the area —reportedly after tips from Afghan sources — confirmed thatthe hostages were there, secured the area and carried out therescue. The mission reportedly involved U.S. and British special forcestroops who had planned and rehearsed the operation, suggesting thatthey had some intelligence on the location. Local police were quoted as saying that the captors were members ofcriminal gangs intent on taking advantage of the area's forbiddingterrain and weak security to make money. Coalition officialslabeled them part of an armed terrorist group with ties to the Taliban . The hostage takers were reportedly armed with heavy machine guns,rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47 assault weapons. The British Foreign Office said in a statement that the rescue wasauthorized by Prime Minister David Cameron. "We pay tribute to the bravery of the coalition forces, whichmeans that all four aid workers will soon be rejoining theirfamilies and loved ones," the Foreign Office said. Briton Helen Johnston and Kenyan Moragwa Oirere were reportedlybeing cared for Saturday at the British Embassy in Kabul and theAfghan workers were in the process of returning to their familiesin Badakhshan. "We are delighted and hugely relieved by the wonderful news thatHelen and all her colleagues have been freed," Johnston's familysaid in a statement. "We are deeply grateful to everyone involvedin her rescue, to those who worked tirelessly on her behalf, and tofamily and friends for their love, prayers and support over thelast 12 days." Medair said the team was abducted while visiting relief sitesproviding nutrition, hygiene and health assistance, and expressedrelief that the rescue was successful. "It's a joyful day," said Aurelien Demaurex, Medair's spokesman."We're incredibly relieved." Foreign aid workers in Afghanistan are under growing threat as theTaliban steps up attacks before a planned pullout of coalitioncombat troops by the end of 2014. Two years ago, 10 foreign medicalworkers, including six Americans returning from a mission toprovide eye treatments in remote villages in Badakhshan werekilled. Insurgents were blamed for the attack. Demaurex said that, given the euphoria over the release, it was tooearly to assess whether Medair will curtail its humanitarianactivities in remote areas of Afghanistan. But he said theorganization would study the question. "We are concerned about the people we are serving, but don't wantto put our staff in harm's way," he said. "It's always difficulttrying to find the right balance." mark.magnier@latimes.com Special correspondent Baktash reported from Kabul and Times staffwriter Magnier from New Delhi. Times staff writer Henry Chu inLondon contributed to this report. I am an expert from cobled-downlight.com, while we provides the quality product, such as China Outdoor Led Floodlight , Led Kitchen Cabinet Lights Manufacturer, Cob Led Downlight,and more.
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