OSLO ? A Norwegian journalist and his Afghan interpreter who were kidnapped a week ago in eastern Afghanistan have been released by their captors, Norway's foreign ministry said on Thursday.

"The two men are now in a safe place," the ministry said in a statement.

The freelance reporter, who was working for a Norwegian television production company, and his interpreter were kidnapped on November 4 near the Pakistan border.

The Norwegian government had asked media outlets to refrain from reporting on the incident for security reasons.

The ministry's statement made no mention of a ransom being paid, nor were the identities of the two men or their captors disclosed.