A US journalist has been freed in Afghanistan after serving most of a two-year sentence for torturing Afghans and running a private jail in Kabul.
Edward Caraballo, 44, was arrested along with two other Americans in 2004 after a raid on a house in the capital uncovered eight Afghans held captive.
Caraballo was released two months early under a presidential decree, a prison official was quoted as saying.
He told the Associated Press he felt "jubilant and happy".
"I am still worried that something could happen to me as I leave but I am optimistic that I will get home safely," he said in a telephone call to the AP minutes before leaving his prison cell.
Caraballo was taken to the airport by US embassy staff and put on a plane to Dubai. He was not allowed to speak to the waiting media.
US men convicted in Kabul
The New York documentary-maker was found guilty, along with Jonathan Idema and Brent Bennett, of running a jail and torturing captives in September 2004.
The US branded Idema, a former special forces soldier, as a bounty hunter who was attracted by the multi-million dollar rewards offered for Osama Bin Laden and other top al-Qaeda men.
But Mr Idema insisted his work was approved by Afghan and US authorities - a claim that US officials have denied - and that Mr Caraballo was a journalist filming them.
Idema and Bennett are serving five and three year sentences respectively.
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