AFGHAN-GERMAN/CONFIRM

OCTOBER 10 2007 15:23h

German Hostage in Afghanistan Freed-German For Min

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`The German citizen ... who was kidnapped in Afghanistan is once again free. We are happy and relieved,` Steinmeier said.

Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier confirmed on Wednesday that a German hostage held captive in Afghanistan for more than two months had been freed.

"The German citizen ... who was kidnapped in Afghanistan is once again free. We are happy and relieved," Steinmeier said in a statement, adding the German ambassador in Afghanistan had spoken to the man by telephone.

A diplomatic source had earlier said Taliban rebels had freed the hostage.