Barack Obama says there was a period of consultation with officials about a possible exchange of prisoners, in the case of an American soldier abducted by the taliban and released in recent days. 

The White House has been accused of not giving enough notice.

Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was freed by the Taliban after being held for five years, in return for five Afghan detainees.

A Pentagon report also concluded the soldier had walked away from his post, but President Obama says that had no bearing on the operation:

Cody Full was in Bowe's platoon:

At a White House press conference at the weekend, US President Barack Obama said he was proud of the operation to release Bowe: