Taliban Free Two Korean Hostages
Women from group of 23 kidnapped three weeks ago.
Two South Korean women kidnapped by Taliban militants were handed over to officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross today.
The pair were crying as they got out of a dark grey Toyota Corolla driven by an Afghan elder and into two waiting Red Cross vehicles. The women were from 23 South Koreans kidnapped by Taliban militants on July 19.
A Taliban spokesman said late on Saturday that the two female hostages, said to be seriously ill, had been freed, then later said his comments had been misinterpreted and the pair would be freed shortly.
The Taliban have killed two male hostages and threatened to kill the remaining 21 church volunteers, 18 of them women, unless a similar number of Taliban prisoners are freed in exchange.
The Afghan government has refused to give in to the demand, saying it would encourage more kidnapping.
The pair were crying as they got out of a dark grey Toyota Corolla driven by an Afghan elder and into two waiting Red Cross vehicles. The women were from 23 South Koreans kidnapped by Taliban militants on July 19.
A Taliban spokesman said late on Saturday that the two female hostages, said to be seriously ill, had been freed, then later said his comments had been misinterpreted and the pair would be freed shortly.
The Taliban have killed two male hostages and threatened to kill the remaining 21 church volunteers, 18 of them women, unless a similar number of Taliban prisoners are freed in exchange.
The Afghan government has refused to give in to the demand, saying it would encourage more kidnapping.
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