Afghan Christian spirited to safety thanks to the Pope
From Anthony Browne in Brussels and Richard Owen in Rome

THE Afghan apostate threatened with execution finally found sanctuary yesterday when the Italian Government granted him fast-track asylum on the ground of “religious persecution”.

Abdul Rahman who had been secretly spirited from Kabul to an undisclosed “secure location” near Rome on Tuesday night, spoke yesterday of his gratitude to Italy and Pope Benedict.

In an interview aired by two Italian television channels, Mr Rahman said he would certainly have been killed if he had stayed in Kabul: “If you are not a Muslim in an Islamic country like mine they kill you, there are no doubts.” the rest