This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6909763.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Taleban 'kill captured Germans' Kabul doubts German killing claim
(about 4 hours later)
Two Germans kidnapped near Kabul in Afghanistan this week have been killed, a spokesman for the Taleban has said. The Afghan government says it does not believe Taleban claims that the militant group has killed two Germans it abducted near Kabul this week.
The spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, said the Taleban's demand that Germany withdraw its 3,000 troops in Afghanistan had been ignored. The foreign ministry said it believed one hostage had died of a heart attack and the other was still alive.
Afghan and German officials say they have no confirmation of the killings and are seeking evidence. Earlier, a Taleban spokesman said the two were killed as Germany had ignored a demand to withdraw its 3,000 troops.
The Taleban has also threatened to kill at least 18 hostages from South Korea, captured separately on Thursday. The Taleban have also threatened to kill at least 18 hostages from South Korea, captured separately on Thursday.
Foreign ministry spokesman Sultan Ahmad Baheen told the BBC the Afghan security forces believed one of the two German engineers kidnapped on Wednesday was still alive.
"We hope that he will be released soon and we are trying our best to get him released," Mr Baheen said.
"The information that we and our security forces have is that one of these two who were kidnapped died of a heart attack."
Deadlines passDeadlines pass
Local police said the Germans, whose identity has not been revealed, were seized with six Afghan colleagues on Wednesday in Wardak province where they had been working on a dam project.Local police said the Germans, whose identity has not been revealed, were seized with six Afghan colleagues on Wednesday in Wardak province where they had been working on a dam project.
Germany has about 3,000 troops in the countryGermany has about 3,000 troops in the country
German foreign ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger said Berlin was taking the Taleban's statements "very seriously" but had no independent confirmation "that a hostage was murdered in Afghanistan".German foreign ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger said Berlin was taking the Taleban's statements "very seriously" but had no independent confirmation "that a hostage was murdered in Afghanistan".
Germany has about 3,000 troops in the country. Earlier, Taleban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said the first hostage had been killed at 1205 local time (0735 GMT) and shortly afterwards that the second German had also been killed.
Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said that after the first hostage was killed - at 1205 local time (0735 GMT) - a deadline for the second captive was extended because the Afghan government had contacted the group.
However, shortly afterwards he said the second German had also been killed.
If confirmed, the killings would be the first of foreign hostages since the death of an Indian engineer in April last year.If confirmed, the killings would be the first of foreign hostages since the death of an Indian engineer in April last year.
The fate of the South Koreans had not been decided, the spokesman said.The fate of the South Koreans had not been decided, the spokesman said.
The Taleban wants South Korea's 200 troops to leave the country.The Taleban wants South Korea's 200 troops to leave the country.
President Roh Moo-hyun urged the release of the South KoreansPresident Roh Moo-hyun urged the release of the South Koreans
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun appeared on television on Saturday to say his government was making every effort to secure the safe return of his country's citizens.South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun appeared on television on Saturday to say his government was making every effort to secure the safe return of his country's citizens.
South Korea already planned to withdraw its troops by the end of the year, before the kidnappings.South Korea already planned to withdraw its troops by the end of the year, before the kidnappings.
The Koreans were taken at gunpoint in Ghazni province while travelling in a bus from Kandahar city to the capital, Kabul, on Thursday.The Koreans were taken at gunpoint in Ghazni province 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 BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says according to a local district governor tribal elders in Ghazni are trying to negotiate with the kidnappers for their release.The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says according to a local district governor tribal elders in Ghazni are trying to negotiate with the kidnappers for their release.
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.