August 08, 2008	Friday	Sha’aban 5, 1429

KABUL, Aug 7: Authorities early on Thursday rescued a German-Afghan businessman kidnapped nearly two weeks ago in Kabul from captors who had been demanding ransom, Afghanistan’s intelligence agency said.Three men were arrested for abducting the man 13 days ago outside a popular wedding hall that his family owned, deputy intelligence chief Abdullah Laghmani told reporters.

“We received information on Wednesday that he was in an area outside Kabul. We launched an operation at two o’clock and we freed him at four o’clock,” he said.

The abducted man, named Azizullah, told the same media briefing that his captors had demanded $3 million for his release and had threatened to harm him if they did not pay.

“They were saying they would cut my hand or ear and send it to my father unless they sent the money. At one point, I though they would really do it,” he said, looking dishevelled and tired.

Azizullah, who has German and Afghan citizenship, said he was regularly moved to different locations and often kept blindfolded.—AFP