US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel praises soldier release team

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has praised US forces in Afghanistan over the release of a US soldier held for nearly five years by the Taliban.

Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, 28, was handed to US special forces in south-eastern Afghanistan as part of a prisoner swap.

Mr Hagel met some of those involved at Bagram airbase north of Kabul during a previously unannounced visit.

"No shots were fired - it went as well as it could have", he said.

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