British special forces kill nine kidnappers in Italian hostage rescue mission

Crack troops from the Special Boat Service led the mission to save two Italian intelligence officers from a hide-out where they had been held by tribesmen for 36 hours.

As they came under fire, the captors tried to execute their hostages, leaving one with serious head and chest injuries.

No British servicemen were injured in the joint operation with Italian special forces yesterday.

Praising the operation, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said: "It was a heavy defeat for the kidnappers and should serve as a warning."

Italian officials said the men were gagged and chained and had been beaten during their ordeal.

They had been captured in Herat province and negotiations had been under way to hand them to the Taliban.

News reports in Italy said that the men were located in an isolated building near Shindand by Italian intelligence and watched for the night.

Two vehicles were being monitored and once it became apparent they were about to leave, the operation was launched.

Italian defence minister Arturo Parisi said that pilotless Predator aircraft and Mangusta attack helicopters were deployed.

Nine kidnappers were killed along with an Afghan aide who was with the captives, he added.

An Italian military source in Rome said: "This was a complex operation with the British leading the way.

"They went in first and it was they who killed the hostage-takers.

"The decision to go in was taken at the highest authority. Timing was crucial.

"These tribesmen were planning to head south and would have handed the hostages over to groups of a more political organisation."