Two Italian soldiers kidnapped in Afghanistan Saturday were rescued by NATO troops earlier today, but one of the hostages was injured in the raid. Via Times Online:

Two Italian soldiers kidnapped in western Afghanistan were freed in a Nato-led raid early this morning after a two-day ordeal, the Italian Defence Ministry reported.

The two men were taken to hospital after the raid by British and Italian troops, during which one of the hostages was shot in the head and chest, according to Italian media reports. Up to seven of the kidnappers were killed.

It was not clear immediately who the abductors were, with reports suggesting variously that they belonged to the Taleban or to an independent criminal group planning to sell the hostages to the extremist fighters in Farah province, fast becoming a hotbed of unrest.

"According to our intelligence information, a Taleban commander, Mullah Abdul Hamid, had taken them," said Ali Khan Husseinzada, the police chief of criminal investigations for western Afghanistan.

However, the main Taleban spokesman, Yousuf Ahmadi, insisted he knew nothing about the men. The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), said it would release details later today.

UPDATE on Soldiers' Condition:

One of the Italians was seriously wounded and doctors were evaluating whether to operate, Parisi said. The other had broken his shoulder and left collarbone, but his injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Both had been beaten by their captors, said Afghan Gen. Jalandar Shah.

Maj. Charles Anthony, a spokesman for the NATO force here, said it was not clear if the two Italians were wounded by gunfire from their rescuers or their kidnappers.

The Italians' Afghan translator was also wounded, and another Afghan, apparently their driver, was killed, Parisi said. Anthony hinted the driver might have helped in the kidnappings.

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