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 KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Italian commandos, aided by other NATO forces and aircraft, rescued two kidnapped Italian intelligence operatives Monday in a daring ambush and gunbattle that left at least nine of the captors dead in western Afghanistan.
Although both freed Italians were wounded — one of them seriously — Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said the operation was a success and could put a dent in Afghanistan's rising kidnapping industry.
Violence elsewhere in Afghanistan killed at least 31 people. Among the dead were two NATO soldiers serving with Spain's contingent and an Iranian serving as their interpreter — all killed in a land mine explosion, the Spanish defense minister said. Three were seriously wounded.
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