UN helicopter team in Afghanistan rescued after spending night in mountain area

Eight members of a United Nations team stranded overnight in northeastern Afghanistan when their helicopter was forced to land in remote, mountainous terrain are now reported to be well after being rescued today.

The team, which had been in Badakhshan province to collect ballot boxes from Saturday's historic presidential election, was picked up today by UN helicopter and transferred to Faizabad, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Engine problems had forced the team's helicopter to make an emergency landing yesterday in rugged terrain near the village of Patukh, close to the Chinese border.

Temperatures in the Badakhshan mountains fell to 10 degrees Fahrenheit last night, Mr. Dujarric added, but the three crew members and the five passengers on the helicopter were kept warm and fed by an emergency airdrop late yesterday.