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| Freed South Koreans return home | Freed South Koreans return home |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The 19 South Korean church workers freed from captivity in Afghanistan have arrived home in Seoul, after being held by the Taleban for six weeks. | The 19 South Korean church workers freed from captivity in Afghanistan have arrived home in Seoul, after being held by the Taleban for six weeks. |
| Before they left Kabul, some of the freed hostages told a news conference they were sorry for what had happened. | Before they left Kabul, some of the freed hostages told a news conference they were sorry for what had happened. |
| Of the 23 Koreans snatched on 19 July by the Taleban, two were murdered and two were freed earlier. Seoul denies paying a ransom for their release. | Of the 23 Koreans snatched on 19 July by the Taleban, two were murdered and two were freed earlier. Seoul denies paying a ransom for their release. |
| The release was negotiated by South Korean officials earlier this week. | The release was negotiated by South Korean officials earlier this week. |
| HOSTAGE TIMELINE 19 July: 23 South Korean Christian volunteer aid workers seized on a bus between Kabul and Kandahar 26 July: One male hostage shot dead - identified as Bae Hyung-kyu, 42, a church pastor and leader of the group31 July: Another male hostage, Shim Sung-min, a 29-year-old former IT worker, found dead10 August: South Korean officials and Taleban start talks14 August: Two female hostages handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross as a goodwill gesture - leaving 1929 August: 12 more hostages released - leaving seven30 August: All remaining hostages released Hostage release in pictures S Korea press wary over deal | HOSTAGE TIMELINE 19 July: 23 South Korean Christian volunteer aid workers seized on a bus between Kabul and Kandahar 26 July: One male hostage shot dead - identified as Bae Hyung-kyu, 42, a church pastor and leader of the group31 July: Another male hostage, Shim Sung-min, a 29-year-old former IT worker, found dead10 August: South Korean officials and Taleban start talks14 August: Two female hostages handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross as a goodwill gesture - leaving 1929 August: 12 more hostages released - leaving seven30 August: All remaining hostages released Hostage release in pictures S Korea press wary over deal |
| One of the hostages, Suh Myung-hwa, was told Korean TV before she left Afghanistan: "While kidnapped, all I could think about was staying alive." | One of the hostages, Suh Myung-hwa, was told Korean TV before she left Afghanistan: "While kidnapped, all I could think about was staying alive." |
| Another, Yu Kyeong-sik, said she was "very sorry" for what had happened, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. | Another, Yu Kyeong-sik, said she was "very sorry" for what had happened, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. |
| Their release was negotiated by South Korean officials, who had face-to-face meetings with the Taleban this week. | Their release was negotiated by South Korean officials, who had face-to-face meetings with the Taleban this week. |
| Ransom allegations have been made by a number of Afghan officials. | |
| A Taleban representative in Ghazni province, where the hostages were held, told the BBC the South Korean government paid $20m (£10m) but two other Taleban sources told the BBC no ransom was paid. | |
| There are strong indications that money was paid, correspondents say, although the sum is likely to have been considerably lower - Afghan officials have said a sum slightly under $1m (£500,000) was handed over. | |
| South Korea has denied the claims. | South Korea has denied the claims. |
| Heightened fears | Heightened fears |
| Seoul said it agreed to pull its troops out of Afghanistan as scheduled by the end of the year, and stop missionaries travelling to Afghanistan. | Seoul said it agreed to pull its troops out of Afghanistan as scheduled by the end of the year, and stop missionaries travelling to Afghanistan. |
| The BBC's Alastair Leithead, in Kabul, says the Taleban appear to have succeeded in this case - getting away with a kidnap and having their demands met. | The BBC's Alastair Leithead, in Kabul, says the Taleban appear to have succeeded in this case - getting away with a kidnap and having their demands met. |
| There are now heightened fears that more kidnappings will follow, our correspondent says. | There are now heightened fears that more kidnappings will follow, our correspondent says. |
| Their church has insisted the 23 Christians were doing aid work and were not involved in missionary activities. | Their church has insisted the 23 Christians were doing aid work and were not involved in missionary activities. |