Abducted German woman pleads for release

A German woman abducted in the Afghan capital at gun point appeared in a video yesterday asking Berlin to use every effort to gain her freedom.

Wearing a long headscarf and a red local outfit, the blonde woman read from a note: "I am fine... I ask my country to urgently help and cooperate for my release," while displaying an identity card that read Christina Barbara Meier.

The woman, apparently in a small room, introduced herself in English and said she was an employee of "Ora International" aid agency. A man who was not seen in the tape asked her questions in broken English.

A bespectacled young man who had covered his face appeared on the video to say the abductors were not Taliban, adding they belonged to a "special network". He demanded the release of the group's men held by President Hamid Karzai's government.

He did not give any figure or names, adding details would be passed to the government through special channels.