IFJ: 'Act to free journalists held in Afghanistan'

The International Federation of Journalists has demanded action to secure the immediate release of two French journalists and their three Afghan assistants who have been held hostage since their abduction six months ago and a Japanese journalist missing for three months.
Stéphane Taponier, Hervé Ghesquière, and their three Afghan assistants, working for France 3, were taken hostage in the Kapinsa region on 30^th December 2009.
Japanese journalist, Kosuke Tsuneoka, who went missing believed kidnapped on 31^st March in the Taliban controlled city of Kunduz, has not been heard of for three months.
"It is an outrage that the Afghan authorities have failed, after six months, to secure the release of these journalists whose only interest is to inform the world of the reality of Afghanistan," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "The suffering caused to these journalists and their families is intolerable and must end today."

• Former journalist hostage Anthony Grey speaks out on behalf of French journalists held in Afghanistan.