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Envoys start Afghan hostage talks Army 'surrounds Taleban captors'
(about 2 hours later)
A team of hostage negotiators has arrived in Afghanistan from Seoul amid confusion over the fate of abducted South Koreans and Germans. Security forces have surrounded the location where Taleban fighters are holding 23 South Korean hostages, an Afghan defence ministry official says.
The Taleban say they are holding 23 South Koreans and want a swap for jailed fighters, but have also said South Korean forces should leave. But - amid talks to secure their release - the official said a military operation had not yet begun to free the hostages in Ghazni province.
A Taleban spokesman said two captured Germans had been shot dead on Saturday. A team of hostage negotiators arrived in Kabul from Seoul earlier on Sunday.
But Berlin and Kabul believe one hostage died of natural causes and the other is still alive. Meanwhile, there is confusion over the fate of two German hostages captured separately in Afghanistan on Wednesday.
Five Afghans were also captured with the Germans and the Taleban have given conflicting reports on their fate. A Taleban spokesman had said both men were killed on Saturday because Germany refused to withdraw its 3,000-strong force from the country.
Tribal elders But Berlin saying it believes one hostage is still alive and that the other died of a heart attack or stress.
The South Korean delegation arrived in Kabul on Sunday, a spokeswoman at the embassy in the Afghan capital told the BBC. Troop withdrawal
The eight-strong team, including a presidential envoy, will meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other officials. The Koreans were abducted in Ghazni, south-west of Kabul, from a bus travelling from Kandahar to Kabul on Thursday.
A South Korean diplomat is already in Ghazni province, where the Koreans were abducted from a bus travelling from Kandahar to Kabul on Thursday. The Taleban say they want to swap the 23 men and women for jailed fighters and are also demanding that South Korean forces leave Afghanistan.
We must assume that one of the kidnapped Germans died in captivity Frank-Walter Steinmeier,German foreign minister A council of tribal elders is said to be trying to negotiate the hostages' release and a South Korean diplomat is already in the province.
A council of tribal elders is said to be trying to negotiate the hostages' release. Gen Mohammad Zahir Azimi, a spokesman for the Afghan defence ministry, told the BBC: "We have surrounded the area. We haven't launched an attack right now and we are assessing the situation."
The Taleban initially said there were 18 but have revised up the figure to 23. They were reportedly Christians on an evangelical and aid mission. At least 15 are said to be women. The ministry toned down initial reports that an operation to free the hostages had begun.
A spokesman for Nato forces said it was unaware of an operation but was ready to help the Afghan and South Korean governments if asked.
South Koreans have gathered in churches to pray for the hostages
The Taleban initially said there were 18 hostages but have revised up the figure to 23. They are reportedly Christians on an evangelical and aid mission. At least 15 are said to be women.
The seizure is the largest-scale abduction of foreigners since the fall of the Taleban regime in 2001.The seizure is the largest-scale abduction of foreigners since the fall of the Taleban regime in 2001.
A Taleban spokesman who talked to the BBC said in exchange for the South Koreans' safety his group wanted prisoners released and for the 200 Korean troops to leave Afghanistan but he did not give an ultimatum or talk about the number of prisoners. An eight-strong South Korean delegation, including a presidential envoy, arrived in Kabul on Sunday and will meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other officials.
Other reports spoke of a deadline of Sunday at 1900 (1430 GMT) for the Taleban's demands to be met.
Seoul confirmed on Sunday that preparations for its troops to withdraw by the end of the year were under way but that the withdrawal had already been announced and had not been affected by the abductions.Seoul confirmed on Sunday that preparations for its troops to withdraw by the end of the year were under way but that the withdrawal had already been announced and had not been affected by the abductions.
President Roh Moo-hyun appeared on South Korean television on Saturday to urge the release of the citizens held captive.President Roh Moo-hyun appeared on South Korean television on Saturday to urge the release of the citizens held captive.
Relatives of the abductees gathered at churches on Sunday to pray for their release.Relatives of the abductees gathered at churches on Sunday to pray for their release.
Conflicting messagesConflicting messages
Meanwhile, Germany's foreign minister has backed Afghan government reports that one of the two Germans held by the Taleban died of natural causes and was not shot. Meanwhile, Germany's foreign minister has backed Afghan government reports that one of two Germans abducted on Wednesday by the Taleban died of natural causes and was not shot.
The Germans, whose identity has not been revealed, were seized on Wednesday with a number of Afghans in Wardak province where they had been working on a dam project. We must assume that one of the kidnapped Germans died in captivity Frank-Walter Steinmeier,German foreign minister
The Germans, whose identity has not been revealed, were seized with a number of Afghans in Wardak province where they had been working on a dam project.
A Taleban spokesman had said both men were killed on Saturday because Germany refused to withdraw its forces.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said all efforts must be made to save the remaining hostage.Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said all efforts must be made to save the remaining hostage.
A Taleban spokesman had said both men were killed because Germany refused to withdraw its 3,000-strong force.
Mr Steinmeier said: "We must assume that one of the kidnapped Germans died in captivity.Mr Steinmeier said: "We must assume that one of the kidnapped Germans died in captivity.
"Nothing points to murder, all signs tell us that he fell victim to the strain to which his kidnappers subjected him.""Nothing points to murder, all signs tell us that he fell victim to the strain to which his kidnappers subjected him."
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 rebels have given conflicting messages on the fate of the Afghans captured with the Germans, the BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says.The rebels have given conflicting messages on the fate of the Afghans captured with the Germans, the BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says.
A Taleban website said they were dead, but another purported rebel spokesman said they were alive, our correspondent says.A Taleban website said they were dead, but another purported rebel spokesman said they were alive, our correspondent says.
He adds that such conflicting accounts suggest that the rebels may be divide as to what to do with those they are holding.He adds that such conflicting accounts suggest that the rebels may be divide as to what to do with those they are holding.