AFGHANISTAN/SOUTH KOREA: South Korean hostages still alive, says Taliban; Tearful relatives plead for lives of 22 Christian captives

Taliban says South Korean Christians held hostage in Afghanistan are alive, but some are unwell. Spokesman promises not to set any more deadlines on the lives of the 22 captives while negotiations continue. Relatives of the only hostage to be killed, plead for the lives of those still alive. The remaining 22 South Korean hostages being held by the Taliban are alive, a Taliban spokesman said on Friday (July 27), hours after the passing of the latest deadline set by the group. "Yes, yes, they are alive. The talks are going on (with the Afghan team)," Qari Mohammad Yousuf told Reuters by phone from an undisclosed location. He added though that some of the captives were not well. The Taliban had set a Friday noon (0730gmt) deadline on the lives of the hostages unless eight named prisoners were released. Yousuf promised no more deadlines while negotiations continue, "We are not giving further deadlines but we assume that the government is not doing enough to solve the issue, every moment there is possibility of a problem arising." The Afghan government has sent a team of local and national politicians, clerics and tribal leaders to negotiate with the hostage-takers. Deputy Ministry Of Interior Minister General Mounir Mangal, speaking in Ghazni, where it's believed the hostages are being held, said, "I am hopeful that we will have positive results from our negotiations." Earlier this week, the leader of the Christian group held hostage was killed. In South Korea the widow and brother of victim Pastor Bae Hyung-kyu, on Friday called on the Taliban to release the remaining 22 hostages. The dead man's widow, Kim Hee-yeon, read a statement pleading for the remaining captives to be allowed to return home safely. She asked the Taliban to think of their sorrow. "During past week, which was very painful, I have realised how hard it is for the hostages' family members to wait until their beloved ones return to home safely. I deeply hope there will be no more victims," said Kim breaking down in tears. Bae's bullet-ridden body was dumped near where the group were seized last week. In a first known contact with the outside, one of the South Korean female hostages pleaded for help and a speedy release of all the hostages in a telephone interview with CBS News. The woman was believed to be Yoo Hyun-joo, a 32-year-old nurse. Yoo's brother, Yoo Chul, said he could immediately recognise her voice and he's proud of his sister. "My sister crying told me that there are so many poor Afghan children. And she told me that we should help them. She kept expressing her sympathy for those children in Afghanistan," said Yoo. Most of those captive are in their 20s and 30s and include nurses and English teachers. Yonhap News Agency said they were providing only free medical or educational services in Afghanistan with no missionary intentions. The Koreans are the biggest group of foreigners kidnapped so far in the Taliban campaign to oust the U.S.-backed government and force out foreign troops. South Korean chief presidential national security advisor, Baek Jong-chun, is expected to arrive in Afghanistan later on Friday to step up efforts to free the hostages.

ITN Source | July 28, 2007

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