Taleban 'free two of the Koreans'

[Eugene]

Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Saturday, 11 August 2007, 15:38 GMT 16:38 UK

Taleban 'free two of the Koreans'

Taleban militants in Afghanistan say they have freed two
women from among the 21 South Korean hostages they
are holding as a "gesture of goodwill".

Taleban negotiators, who have been holding talks with a
South Korean delegation in the city of Ghazni, said earlier
a settlement could be near.

The rebels are demanding the release of comrades held by
the Afghan government.

The South Korean Christian aid workers were seized last
month. Two have already been killed by the rebels.



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6942291.stm

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Earlier: Taliban negotiators optimistic on Korea hostages - Reuters

[Eugene]

1. Conflicting claims on Taliban-held Korean hostages

Source: Reuters

Conflicting claims on Taliban-held Korean hostages
11 Aug 2007 16:40:49 GMT
Source: Reuters

(releads with conflicting claims about hostages' release)

By Akram Walizada

GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's
Taliban said on Saturday they had freed two female South
Korean hostages, but local and national government officials
said they had no knowledge of such a release.

"Today at 6.30 pm (1330 GMT), we released two of the female
Korean hostages who were seriously ill, without any condition,"
Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf told Reuters by
telephone from an unknown location.

-snip-

However, the governor of Ghazni province, where the group of
Korean church volunteers were seized on July 20 and are thought
to be held, and a spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai
said they had no knowledge of any release.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL275816.htm

[Eugene]

2. Two Koreans to be freed by Monday -Afghan governor

Source: Reuters

Two Koreans to be freed by Monday -Afghan governor
12 Aug 2007 15:15:47 GMT
Source: Reuters

(Recasts with governor saying two women to be freed by Monday)

By Akram Walizada

GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Two ailing South
Korean hostages held by the Taliban are to be freed by
Monday morning, the governor of the Afghan province
where they were abducted said on Sunday.

"The Taliban are releasing two sick female hostages as a
gesture of good faith. They'll be here by tomorrow morning
in Ghazni (city)," provincial governor Merajuddin Pattan
said.

"The Taliban promised to release two of the hostages, but
they did not mention what time."

Earlier, a spokesman for the rebel group said the women
would be freed soon.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL280238.htm

[Eugene]

3. (Monday) Taliban says will free two Koreans at 1130 GMT

Source: Reuters

Taliban says will free two Koreans at 1130 GMT
13 Aug 2007 08:50:05 GMT
Source: Reuters

(Adds details)

KABUL, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Taliban kidnappers will release
two of the 21 remaining South Koreans held hostage in
Afghanistan at 4 pm (1130 GMT) on Monday, a Taliban
spokesman said.

"We are releasing two sick Korean hostages at 4 o'clock
today. We are going to hand them over between Ghazni
and Zabul provinces to the Red Cross," the spokesman,
Qari Mohammad Yousuf, said by telephone from an
undisclosed location.

The same spokesman said late on Saturday that two
female hostages, said to be seriously ill, had already
been freed, then later said his comments had been
misinterpreted and the pair would be freed shortly.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP304102.htm

[Eugene]

4. Freed hostages handed to Korean authorities-ICRC

Source: Reuters

Freed hostages handed to Korean authorities-ICRC
13 Aug 2007 13:18:26 GMT
Source: Reuters

KABUL, Aug 13 (Reuters) - The International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday handed over two freed
South Korean female hostages to Korean authorities in the
Afghan city of Ghazni, an ICRC spokesman said.

"The ICRC, as a neutral intermediary, has taken over these
two female hostages and drove them in an ICRC Land Cruiser
to the building of the Afghan Red Crescent Society... and
they have been handed over to Korean authorities," said
ICRC spokesman Jean Pascal Moret.

Link: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL313306.htm

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Related: S.Korea confirms release of two Afghanistan hostages - Reuters