PAN, February 23, 2011

NATO detained journalists who visited coalition airstrike site that killed 64 civilians

"When we returned from the site of the airstrike, foreign forces arrested us on our way to the district centre"

By Khan Wali Salarzai

Foreign forces detained three journalists who visited the site of a coalition airstrike that killed 64 people in the Ghaziabad district of eastern Kunar province, police said on Wednesday.

Journalists identified as Syed Abdullah Nizami and Saeedullah Sael were detained by NATO-led forces after they were returning from the site of an airstrike by NATO that killed more around 64 innocent civilians in Kunar, Afghanistan. (Photo: PAN)

However, the two Al Jazeera and one Afghan TV reporters were freed after more than 24 hours of detention and handed over to local officials on Tuesday night, provincial police chief, Khalilullah Ziayee, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The journalists were identified as Syed Abdullah Nizami and Saeedullah Sael, both working for the Doha-based news network, and Zabihullah Ghazi, an Afghan TV channel reporter.

They reached Asadabad, the provincial capital, on Wednesday morning. Nizami said that they had gone to Ghaziabad with the permission of the provincial police headquarters, the National Directorate of Security and foreign forces.

"When we returned from the site of the airstrike, foreign forces arrested us on our way to the district centre," Nizami said, adding that they had spent 28 hours in detention.

Foreign troops snatched their cameras and other equipment, but returned the tools when they were released, he said, adding: "They did not misbehave with us."

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