NATO forces rescue four aid workers in north Afghanistan

Afghan officials said seven militants were killed during Saturdays rescue operation

It was a risky but successful operation: British and other NATO forces stormed a cave tucked in the mountains before dawn on Saturday and rescued two foreign female aid workers and their two Afghan colleagues,held hostage by Taliban-linked militants.

Helicopters,flying under the cover of darkness,ferried the rescue team to extreme northeastern Afghanistan,where they suspected the hostages were being held. After confirmation,they raided the site,killed several militants and freed the hostages,ending their nearly two-week ordeal.

Helen Johnston (28) from Britain and Moragwa Oirere (26) from Kenya,along their two Afghan colleagues,were kidnapped on May 22 while traveling on horseback in Badakhshan province. The four work for Medair,a humanitarian non-governmental organization based near Lausanne,Switzerland.

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They were kidnapped by an armed terrorist group with ties to the Taliban, said Lt Col Jimmie Cummings,spokesman for US-led military coalition fighting in Afghanistan. The kidnappers were armed with heavy machine guns,rocket-propelled grenades and AK 47… The hostages were held in a cave in the mountains.

Afghan officials said seven militants were killed during Saturdays rescue operation,which was launched around 1 am.

British Prime Minister David Cameron approved the rescue operation on Friday afternoon after becoming increasingly concerned about the safety of the hostages. The mission was carried out by British troops in co-operation with other NATO and Afghan forces, Cameron told reporters.

He said it was extraordinarily difficult to decide to go ahead with the operation,which involved a long route march without being discovered.

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The hostages are in good health, Lt Gen. Adrian Bradshaw,deputy commander of NATO military coalition in Afghanistan,said,adding they would be reunited with their families soon.