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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| S Korea urges release of hostages | S Korea urges release of hostages |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| South Korea's president has urged the release of 18 citizens held captive in Afghanistan, saying he will make "sincere efforts" to win their freedom. | South Korea's president has urged the release of 18 citizens held captive in Afghanistan, saying he will make "sincere efforts" to win their freedom. |
| Roh Moo-hyun made his appeal after Taleban insurgents threatened to kill the captives unless South Korea's 200 troops left the country. | Roh Moo-hyun made his appeal after Taleban insurgents threatened to kill the captives unless South Korea's 200 troops left the country. |
| South Korea already plans to withdraw its troops by the end of the year. | South Korea already plans to withdraw its troops by the end of the year. |
| Foreign Minister Song Min-soon had earlier said that Seoul would stick to its schedule. | Foreign Minister Song Min-soon had earlier said that Seoul would stick to its schedule. |
| "We have only several months to go... You cannot withdraw 200 people overnight," he said. | "We have only several months to go... You cannot withdraw 200 people overnight," he said. |
| The Taleban said on Saturday they had killed two Germans taken hostage in a separate abduction. | |
| Mostly women | Mostly women |
| The Koreans were taken at gunpoint while travelling in a bus from Kandahar city to the capital, Kabul, on Thursday. | The Koreans were taken at gunpoint while travelling in a bus from Kandahar city to the capital, Kabul, on Thursday. |
| They were reportedly Christians on an evangelical and aid mission. At least 15 are said to be women. | They were reportedly Christians on an evangelical and aid mission. At least 15 are said to be women. |
| The seizure was the largest-scale abduction of foreigners since the fall of the Taleban regime in 2001, according to the Associated Press. | The seizure was the largest-scale abduction of foreigners since the fall of the Taleban regime in 2001, according to the Associated Press. |
| Roh Moo-hyun made an appeal in a brief televised appearance | |
| In a brief televised appeal on Saturday Mr Roh said the captors "should send our people home quickly and safely". | |
| He did not specify what measures Seoul would take to try to secure a release. | He did not specify what measures Seoul would take to try to secure a release. |
| South Korean foreign ministry spokesman Cho Hee-yong told AP the government was in contact with the kidnappers. | |
| Some relatives of those kidnapped have urged the government to accept the Taleban's demands. | |
| One, Cha Sung-min, said: "We hope that the immediate withdrawal [of troops] is made." | |
| Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, who claims to speak for the Taleban, told AP on Friday that Seoul had "until tomorrow at noon to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan, or otherwise we will kill the 18 Koreans". | Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, who claims to speak for the Taleban, told AP on Friday that Seoul had "until tomorrow at noon to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan, or otherwise we will kill the 18 Koreans". |
| Foreign Minister Song says his government is working closely with its Afghan counterpart and a crisis team from Seoul will arrive in Kabul on Saturday. | |
| The same Taleban spokesman said on Saturday the group had killed two Germans taken hostage near Kabul on Wednesday. | |