Italian photographer freed in Afghanistan

ROME, Nov 3 (Reuters) Gabriele Torsello, an Italian photojournalist kidnapped in Afghanistan's lawless south, was released today after some three weeks chained in dark rooms.

Aid workers in Afghanistan said they had received a call directing them to a road where Torsello could be found, said the PeaceReporter Web site, which specialises in conflict cover and is close to relief services in Afghanistan.

The London-based convert to Islam was found unharmed and healthy, and was being taken to Kabul, officials said.

In his first comments since being freed, Torsello told the Web site he was held in dark rooms during his captivity, usually shackled. Meals always consisted of potatoes or wet bread in soup with lard, he said.

Initially, he was able to read the Koran, but spent his entire imprisonment in fear.

''I thought they would kill me,'' he said, recounting one night when his captors took him outside instead of serving him dinner. In the end, he was being moved to another location.

Defence Minister Arturo Parisi thanked Italy's SISMI military secret services for their ''decisive contribution'' to his release, according to Ansa news agency. It gave no details.

Italy's ambassador to Kabul, Ettore Sequi, denied media reports that a ransom had been paid. The kidnappers had demanded that Italy hand over an Afghan who converted to Christianity from Islam in return for Torsello's release.

Italian leaders including President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Romano Prodi expressed relief at his release.

Torsello's kidnapping caused a stir in Italy, where prayer vigils were held and local newspapers followed every twist in his ordeal close. During his captivity, the Pope made an appeal for the release of kidnapping victims.

Torsello, 36, was seized on October 12 from a public bus by five gunmen on the highway from the capital of Helmand province to neighbouring Kandahar province.

He was in the area, a Taliban stronghold and centre of opium trade, to report on the deaths of civilians and destruction of property by NATO forces in operations against the Taliban.

The provinces are Afghanistan's most dangerous and have been the scene of heavy fighting in the past few months between Taliban guerrillas and NATO forces.

Kidnappings, both for criminal and political reasons, have become increasingly common across Afghanistan.

Afghan police said Torsello was held by the Taliban, but the group has denied any involvement, blaming criminals instead.

REUTERS PDM RN2119