Villacoublay, France: Two journalists have come home to France after 18 months in captivity in Afghanistan.
Stephane Taponier and Herve Ghesquiere arrived at a military airbase in Villacoublay outside Paris on Thursday. They were freed Wednesday along with their Afghan translator.
The three and two other Afghans were kidnapped in December 2009 while working on a story about reconstruction on a road east of Kabul. Their plight prompted a nationwide campaign in France for their release.
The Taliban said the insurgency movement was holding them and made a set of demands in exchange for the men’s freedom.
French officials insisted that no ransom was paid for the men’s freedom.
–Agencies