French hostage freed in Afghanistan

A Frenchman who was kidnapped in Afghanistan at the end of November has been freed, a spokesman for the French embassy in Kabul said on Monday.

Pierre Borghi, who was trying to establish himself as a photographer, was freed in Wardak province outside the capital Sunday night, Afghan police said.

Shoib Sharifi, director of the Afghan Public Protection Force, said that Borghi may have escaped from his captors.

"Yes, he has been released, he was found by our guards in Maidan Shar town last night at around 9:00 pm," he said.

"Apparently he had escaped from his captors... he was found near one of our check posts in Maidan Shar. Our guards brought him to Kabul."

Sharifi said Borghi was taken to the interior ministry and was being handed over to the French embassy.