Taliban free French woman, still hold four men

KANDAHAR: Taliban on Saturday freed a French woman captured more than three weeks ago but demanded the withdrawal of French troops or release of prisoners for the freedom of a French man and three Afghans still being held.

The woman, identified only as Celine, was released in Maiwand district, a Taliban stronghold about 50 kilometres west of Kandahar city, Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said.

She was taken to Kandahar city and travelled on to Kabul, officials said. Sources said she had arrived in the capital late afternoon but the French embassy would not comment.

The five -- two French nationals and three Afghans working for French non-governmental organisation, Terre d'Enfance (A World For Our Children) -- were abducted April 3 in the southwestern province of Nimroz.

"Celine is extremely worn out after 24 days in captivity. She is very weak," Terre d'Enfance chairman, Antoine Vuillaume, told reporters in Paris,

The Taliban said it released her with a letter to the French government listing demands to be met in a week before it frees the men.

"We want from French people and French government to draw out their soldiers from Afghanistan or a response about exchange of prisoners...," the Taliban said in a statement posted on its website.

France has 1,000 troops with NATO's International Security Assistance Force involved in intense military operations against the extremist Taliban, which was in government between 1996 and 2001.