Two French journalists who had been sentenced to six months for violating their visas in Pakistan - after traveling without permission near the Afghan border - were freed on appeal yesterday. A Pakistani reporter who was working with them remained jailed.

　　A judge at Sindh High Court reduced the sentences imposed on Saturday on reporter Marc Epstein and photographer Jean-Paul Guilloteau from six months to seven days. Since they had already spent that long in police custody, they were set free.

　　The release of the two French journalists, who work for the French magazine L'Express, follows diplomatic moves in their case, including a telephone call by French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin to Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri last week.

　　De Villepin told a news conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, that French and Pakistani diplomats had been in constant contact over the detentions and that the independence of the Pakistani judiciary had been "fully respected."

　　"This is a good decision. We are happy," said Nafees Sadiqui, a defense lawyer. He said the journalists, who were present in court yesterday, were also "very happy and excited."

　　Judge Zawar Hussain Jafery increased the fine against the two journalists from 100,000 rupees (US$1,750) to 200,000 rupees each. The return of their passports would be subject to payment of the fine.

　　The two men were originally sentenced in a sessions court in Karachi for traveling to the southwestern city of Quetta, which lies about 50 kilometers from Afghanistan, without permission.

　　Pakistani officials have said the men were involved in making an allegedly fake documentary showing Taliban rebels sneaking into Pakistan from Afghanistan - a sensitive issue here, but they were not charged with any other offense.

　　The journalists were arrested on December 16 in Karachi.