AFGHANISTAN: Muslims in Kabul condemn the kidnapping of South Korean aid workers by the Taliban as the hostages' fate remains unclear after deadline expires

The fate of the remaining 22 South Korean hostages held by the Taliban in Afghanistan was not known after the expiry of a Friday (July 27) noon (0730 GMT) deadline by the group. Authorities in Ghazni, where the Christian hostages are believed to be held, refused to speak to the media. But Afghan Deputy Interior Minister Munir Mangal, who also heads an Afghan team trying to secure the freedom of the hostages, told reporters the hostages were alive and fine. He said an Afghan delegation was holding talks with the Taliban and had appealed to the group to not issue further deadlines as the government was keen to resolve the crisis "peacefully". He did not say if the Taliban had accepted the delegation's appeal. The Taliban could not be reached for comment about the fate of the captives and about the reported extension. Accusing the government of "killing time and playing tricks", a Taliban spokesman had said earlier they would kill the captives if rebel prisoners were not released by the Afghan government by Friday noon. In Kabul Muslims gathered at the city's main Puli Khishti mosque for Friday prayers. After attending the mosque university student Mustafa Khan condemned the kidnappings, "It not allowed in Islamic Sharia nor humanity. It is an unlawful action and against Islamic law," he said. Another Kabul resident Rohul Amin, implored the Taliban to release the hostages, "I demand that the Taliban release those who are held hostage," said Amin outside the mosque. "We have family and our family loves us, those people also have family, their families loves them and are waiting for them. They are women and the abduction of women is not allowed in Islam." The Taliban have already killed the leader of the 23 volunteers they snatched from a bus on the main highway south of the capital Kabul last week, but several previous deadlines have passed without them carrying out their threats. The Taliban spokesman said Afghan authorities had asked for more time after the insurgents presented the government with a list of eight prisoners it wanted released. South Korean chief presidential national security adviser, Baek Jong-chun, is expected to arrive in Afghanistan later on Friday to step up efforts to free the hostages.

ITN Source | July 27, 2007

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