Hostages in Afghanistan 'rescued'

US troops say they destroyed a large weapons cache

American-led coalition forces in Afghanistan say they have freed two Afghans taken hostage by Taleban and al-Qaeda militants.

In a statement the coalition said that three residents of a village in the eastern province of Paktika were freed when its forces raided two compounds.

It said that the raid took place in Zaghun Shah district.

A coalition spokesman said militants in the compounds had kept women and children close by as human shields.

But he said that the hostage-takers were subdued without harming them.

One of the freed captives said the militants killed a third hostage a day earlier.

Eight militants were detained and a large cache of weapons was destroyed.