United Press International

The British soldier who died in a raid that rescued a New York Times reporter in Afghanistan was described as "immensely capable" by his commanding officer.

Britain's Defense Ministry identified the soldier as Cpl. John Harrison, 29, of the Parachute Regiment, who was killed in Wednesday's nighttime raid on an Afghan village to free Times reporter Stephen Farrell from Taliban kidnappers, The Times reported. Farrell escaped unharmed but the newspaper's interpreter, Sultan Munadi, 34, was killed in gunfire as the two fled from a house where they were being held.

The commanding officer of Harrison's unit said the 29-year-old soldier was "an immensely capable, self-effacing and highly likable soldier with an irrepressible humor," the Defense Ministry statement said.

"Although his passing is a sad day for us, every member of the unit counts themselves privileged to have known such a tower of strength," said the officer, who was not named, The Times said.

Farrell and Munadi were abducted Saturday while heading to Kunduz in northern Afghanistan to report on a NATO airstrike the previous day.

The Times said the Defense Ministry announcement gave no details of the raid, which U.S. and British officials say was carried out by British Special Forces members transported by U.S. helicopters and assisted by Afghan Army units.

Some British reports have raised questions about the decision to go ahead with the raid when there still might have been an opportunity to secure the abductees' release through negotiations, The Times said. The military said it acted after indications the men would be moved to Pakistan, which would have made rescue extremely unlikely.

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