French hostages in Afghanistan appeal for freedom

PARIS (AP) -- Two French TV journalists held hostage in Afghanistan appeal in a recent video to France's government to help release them.

The families of the hostages viewed the video in the French Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. It has not been released publicly.

Stephane Taponier and Herve Ghesquiere were kidnapped a year ago, on Dec. 30, 2009 east of Kabul. French authorities have been working to try to secure their release.

Taponier's mother, Arlette, said on France-3 television after seeing the video that the two ask "for the French government to do everything possible to free them as soon as possible."

The two men, who work for France-3, have lost weight but are "rather calm" in the video, according to Taponier's father.