Gordon Brown urged to investigate death of Afghan journalist Sultan Munadi in raid on Taliban that freed NYT correspondent

The Committee to Protect Journalists has written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown today urging him to investigate the rescue by British troops of New York Times journalist Stephen Farrell from the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the circumstances in which his fellow captive and helper, Afghan journalist Sultan Munadi (pictured), was killed.
In the letter, the CPJ says it "wishes to offer our condolences on the loss of British Parachute Regiment Cpl. John Harrison, who died in a September 9 military operation to rescue two journalists kidnapped by Taliban forces in Afghanistan. We are grateful that New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell, a British-Irish national, was safely rescued, but we’re saddened by the loss of his colleague, fellow New York Times reporter Sultan Munadi."

The letter continues: "As an organization of journalists dedicated to the defense of press freedom around the world, we are writing today to request that you authorize a comprehensive investigation into the rescue operation on September 9. Many questions remain, among them whether Munadi’s rescue was a central objective, what circumstances existed when he was killed, and why his remains were left behind after British forces withdrew.

"We urge you to authorize the Ministry of Defence to carry out an internal inquiry and to make its findings public. We believe that such an inquiry can be carried out without compromising the operational security of British and NATO forces operating in Afghanistan."
The letter, from CPJ executive director Joel Simon and CPJ chairman Paul E. Steiger, adds: "Making public the findings of a comprehensive inquiry would underscore to Afghan journalists—without whom international reporters could not operate independently on the ground— that they can report with the same degree of safety as their Western colleagues when encountering British and other foreign troops. Thank you for your consideration. We await your response."

Farrell and Munadi were taken captive by Taliban forces south of Kunduz on September 5. They had gone to the area to report on the aftermath of a NATO airstrike on two fuel trucks stolen by the Taliban.