Greek aid worker, Athanassios Lerounis, abducted by the Taliban in northern Pakistan on September 14, has been released, Greek diplomats said, cited by Greek daily Kathimerini on April 9 2010.

Lerounis had been working as a volunteer teacher for a humanitarian organisation in Pakistan since 1995. His abduction, however, has caused a shock wave of discontent  both in Pakistan and in Greece, home to a large Pakistani community in Athens.

"He is here. He looks fine. He is healthy," Pakistani government official Rehmatullah Wazir told local media, cited by Kathimerini.

"We were able to secure his release by negotiations and... pressure," Wazir said.

His kidnapping had caused major concern, due to the large Pakistani immigrant community in Greece, and Athens in particular. A Pakistani friend of the kidnapped Greek teacher told the Pakistani News International that "there are more than 80 000 Pakistanis in Greece and almost half of them were staying there illegally in the hope of entering other European countries".

"We spoke with him and he is in the hands of competent agencies and they will bring him to the embassy in Islamabad today or tomorrow," Greek ambassador in Islamabad, Petros Mavroidis said.

Upon capture, the Taliban demanded two million dollars, as well as the release of three of its leaders, in exchange of his return.

The volunteer teacher was snatched from his home in northwestern Pakistan on September 14, "selflessly serving the people of Kalash" the Pakistani News International had reported on September 15 2009.