French aid worker Eric Damfreville leaves a French Government aircraft on arrival at Villacoublay military airport yesterday after his return from Afghanistan where he had been held hostage for five weeks by the Taliban. - Reuters

PARIS (Reuters):

A French aid worker freed by the Taliban returned home yesterday and Paris pledged to seek the release of three Afghan colleagues still held by the rebel group.

The Taliban, who had threatened to kill Eric Damfreville of the children's aid group Terre d'Enfance, wants France to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan and release Taliban prisoners held by the Afghan Government.

"Nicolas Sarkozy hopes for the rapid release of the remaining hostages. He will put everything in place to this end," a statement from France's president-elect said.

After 38 days in captivity, blindfolded and chained, Damfreville was released on Friday and landed yesterday at a military airport outside Paris.

A gaunt-looking Damfreville arrived wrapped in a survival blanket, wearing an eye patch and a neck brace.

"My condition comes mainly from the roughness and toughness of my captivity in south Afghanistan which is a bit rustic," he said after landing. "I have been well treated."

Damfreville was kidnapped on April 3 together with his three Afghan aides and French co-worker Celine Cordelier, who was released on April 28.

French authorities would work to obtain the release of the three Afghan hostages, Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said as he greeted Damfreville at the airport.