NATO coalition forces confirmed the rescue of four humanitarian aid workers Saturday, who were being held by Afghan militants in a cave in the country's northern-most Badakhshan province.

北约联军星期六证实，北约已经救出了四名被阿富汗激进分子扣留在该国最北端巴达赫尚省的一个山洞中的人道救援工作者。

A NATO press release said that two Western doctors and two Afghan civilians were rescued in an early morning military operation.

北约的新闻通报说，包括两名西方国家医生和两名阿富汗平民在内的这四个人在星期六早上的一次军事行动中获救。

"The rescue team was inserted by helicopter, under cover of darkness, and confirmed the presence of the hostages.After securing the location, ISAF forces conducted the rescue mission and successfully freed all four hostages,"coalition forces spokesperson Lieutenant Lauren Rago said, describing the raid.

联军发言人劳伦·拉戈中尉详细说明了这次突击行动的经过。

The aid workers, working for a Swiss-based humanitarian organization, Medair, were kidnapped May 22 while traveling by horseback to treat villagers suffering from malnutrition.

这些人道救援工作者为瑞士人道组织“空中医疗协助”工作。他们5月22号骑马进入村庄，治疗营养不良的村民时被扣押。

Medair's spokesman in Switzerland, Aurelien Demaurex, identified the victims as Briton Helen Johnston, 28, and Kenyan Moragwa Oirere, 26.The group did not reveal the names of the two local Afghan staff, but said it was "relieved and immensely grateful to everyone involved in their safe return."

该人道组织的一位发言人在瑞士说，被扣人员中包括28岁的英国人约翰斯顿和26岁的肯尼亚人欧瑞里。该组织没有公布被扣的两名阿富汗人的姓名，不过说该组织“深感欣慰，并对所有帮助这四个人安全返回的人表示深深的感谢。”

According to the head of the U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, U.S. General John Allen, the rescue operation was conducted with the support of the Afghan Interior Ministry.Afghan officials said all five hostage takers were killed in the raid.

驻阿富汗的美国和北约联军总司令艾伦将军说，这次救援行动是在阿富汗内政部的协助下展开的。阿富汗有关官员说，5名扣押人质者都在袭击中被击毙。

Afghan Foreign Office spokesman Janan Musazia welcomed the release of the medical aid workers who, he said, were serving the people of Afghanistan and said he was "pleased with the outcome of the raid.

阿富汗外交部发言人穆萨扎伊对医疗援助工作者的获救表示欢迎。他说，这些人为阿富汗人民服务，他对突袭行动的结果“感到高兴”。

British forces took part in the operation, authorized by Prime Minister David Cameron.He described the rescue as "extraordinarily brave" and "breathtaking."The rescue team did not suffer any casualties in the operation.

It was not immediately clear what demands the kidnappers made.

In violence Saturday, NATO said one of its service members was killed in an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan.