The Reuters news agency is reporting that five aid workers abducted in the extreme northeast of Afghanistan late last month, have been freed.

"It was a successful operation conducted by troops and all five aid workers have been released," said Shamul Rahman Shams,
deputy governor of northeastern Badakhshan province.

Among the aid workers employed by Medair, which provides food aid in the country, were two western doctors.

The late Friday operation ended with the deaths of the four hostage-takers.