Miliband criticises kidnapped journalist for ignoring 'very strong advice' against travel in Afghanistan



David Miliband yesterday criticised kidnapped journalist Stephen Farrell for ignoring 'very strong advice' not to travel to the Afghan region where he was seized by militants.

The Foreign Secretary was instrumental in approving the special forces raid which freed Mr Farrell but left Afghan interpreter Sultan Munadi and paratrooper John Harrison dead.

But yesterday he acknowledged the concerns of those who have questioned the decision to free Mr Farrell when he had apparently courted danger.

Courageous: Corporal John Harrison (left) was killed in the SAS-led operation to rescue British journalist Stephen Farrell (right), which was launched after officials received intelligence that he was about to be moved into Pakistan's tribal areas



He said: 'He was obviously on the one hand very brave and on the other hand he went against very strong advice that it was extremely dangerous to be in that area.'

Admitting that the rescue operation came with grave risks, the Foreign Secretary moved to insist that he only approved the mission after military advice.

‘This was an operation that only took place because we thought there was no better alternative and it only took place after very considered military judgment that it was a mission with the possibility of success.’



His words come after Downing Street on Thursday made clear that Gordon Brown had only rubber stamped the raid.

Mr Miliband rejected calls for an inquiry. ‘I don't think an inquiry is needed, all the right procedures were followed, of course we look at all the lessons that are to be learned and that is a process that goes on.

David Miliband said Farrell had ignored 'very strong advice' against travelling to the area of Afghanistan. Right, Afghan interpreter Sultan Munadi who was killed

‘But I don't think we should be talking about inquiries now, we had incredibly brave British people risking their lives to rescue a British citizen and tragically his journalist accompanying was lost and one of our people was lost.’

Today it was confirmed by the New York Times that Mr Farrell had been reunited with his family. He was flown out of Kabul to an undisclosed location.

The paper would not confirm reports suggesting he returned to Britain but a spokesman said: 'He is with his family at the moment and we are trying to give them some privacy.'

He did receive support from former hostage Terry Waite.

Grief: A friend holds a photograph of Afghan translator Sultan Munadi yesterday

Mr Waite, 70, was held hostage by terrorists in Beirut for nearly five years.

During a visit to a homeless charity in Coventry, West Mids, Terry also blasted the Army commanders who ordered the raid accusing them of being 'gung-ho'.

He said: 'I have to say that we would be the poorer without journalists who are willing to cover what is happening in those places.



'I knew the risks I was taking. Nobody has ever heard me complain. I didn't like it, but I knew that if I was captured or lost my life it was my responsibility to understand the risks involved.'







IN HIS OWN WORDS

This is an edited version of Stephen Farrell's account of his kidnap and rescue in the New York Times.



On Friday we heard reports of an explosion in a Taliban-controlled area near Kunduz.



We went to the hospital, which was crowded with patients, doctors, journalists and Red Cross officials.

On Saturday we drove south until we reached the turn-off. I checked with Sultan and the driver to see if they felt safe going there, and they said it seemed all right.



We began interviewing an Afghan. There was no sign of hostility from the crowd.

Mr Farrell (left) and his interpreter Mr Munadi (right) interview and film a wounded man in a hospital in Kunduz on the day before they were captured

As we were carrying our gear to the car, villagers shouted 'Taliban' and scattered.



Our driver fled, with the keys.



Sultan and I fled a shorter distance, stopped and got caught.



Neither of us was subjected to any beatings, torture or ill-treatment over the next four days.



On the third night, just before 3am, there were loud explosions in nearby fields.



We, and the Taliban, took this as an attempt to free us. They fled with us, racing across open fields in the dark until they found another refuge.



On the fourth night there were multiple engine noises, rotors, and then gunshots and explosions.



The Taliban snatched up their rocket-propelled grenades and ran from the room.

We ran to the door. We could see nothing more than a few feet in front of us.



There were bullets flying through the air.



Sultan carried straight on. He raised his hands and shouted: 'Journalist, journalist.'



There was a burst of gunfire and he went down. I screamed: 'British hostage, British hostage.'



It later emerged that one of the rescue party was also dead, mortally wounded during the raid.



His blood-soaked helmet was in front of me throughout the flight home. I thanked everyone who was still alive to thank.



It wasn't, and never will be, enough.



