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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| S Korea urges release of hostages | S Korea urges release of hostages |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| South Korea is stepping up efforts to secure the release of 22 of its people taken hostage in Afghanistan. | South Korea is stepping up efforts to secure the release of 22 of its people taken hostage in Afghanistan. |
| The government condemned the Taleban for the death of one of the hostages on Wednesday, while sending an envoy to negotiate for the others' release. | The government condemned the Taleban for the death of one of the hostages on Wednesday, while sending an envoy to negotiate for the others' release. |
| A Taleban deadline for a prisoner swap passed without incident. The remaining hostages are thought to be alive. | |
| Meanwhile a Taleban leader said he was encouraging the kidnap of foreigners to trade for Taleban prisoners. | Meanwhile a Taleban leader said he was encouraging the kidnap of foreigners to trade for Taleban prisoners. |
| Military commander Mansour Dadullah told UK Channel 4 TV he was in close contact with al-Qaeda. | Military commander Mansour Dadullah told UK Channel 4 TV he was in close contact with al-Qaeda. |
| Travel bans | Travel bans |
| Mr Dadullah himself was freed with four other Taleban members in exchange for a kidnapped Italian journalist earlier this year. | Mr Dadullah himself was freed with four other Taleban members in exchange for a kidnapped Italian journalist earlier this year. |
| "Of course, kidnapping is a very successful policy and I order all my mujahideen to kidnap foreigners of any nationality wherever they find them and then we should do the same kind of deal," he said. | "Of course, kidnapping is a very successful policy and I order all my mujahideen to kidnap foreigners of any nationality wherever they find them and then we should do the same kind of deal," he said. |
| South Korean rallies have called for the release of the hostagesAfghan police banned foreigners from travelling outside Kabul without their permission, Associated Press news agency said. | South Korean rallies have called for the release of the hostagesAfghan police banned foreigners from travelling outside Kabul without their permission, Associated Press news agency said. |
| And South Korea is banning any more of its citizens from travelling to Afghanistan. | And South Korea is banning any more of its citizens from travelling to Afghanistan. |
| A spate of kidnappings has made travel outside big cities a major risk in recent months. | A spate of kidnappings has made travel outside big cities a major risk in recent months. |
| Clashes between Taleban militants and foreign troops have increased and the number of roadside bombings and suicide attacks has risen. | Clashes between Taleban militants and foreign troops have increased and the number of roadside bombings and suicide attacks has risen. |
| 'Inhumane act' | 'Inhumane act' |
| The 23 South Koreans were abducted in Ghazni, south-west of Kabul, one week ago. | The 23 South Koreans were abducted in Ghazni, south-west of Kabul, one week ago. |
| The hostages - most of them women - are members of a Christian aid group. | The hostages - most of them women - are members of a Christian aid group. |
| The body of one of the hostages was found with multiple bullet wounds in Ghazni province - where the Koreans are being held. | The body of one of the hostages was found with multiple bullet wounds in Ghazni province - where the Koreans are being held. |
| South Korea's foreign ministry identified the man as Bae Hyung-Kyu, 42, a church pastor and leader of the group. | South Korea's foreign ministry identified the man as Bae Hyung-Kyu, 42, a church pastor and leader of the group. |
| A statement from the office of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun condemned the killing as an "inhumane act". | A statement from the office of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun condemned the killing as an "inhumane act". |
| "Murder of an innocent civilian can never be justified. | "Murder of an innocent civilian can never be justified. |
| "In consideration of such a grave situation, the government decided to despatch a special envoy to Afghanistan for closer consultations with the Afghan government," the statement said. | "In consideration of such a grave situation, the government decided to despatch a special envoy to Afghanistan for closer consultations with the Afghan government," the statement said. |
| "We once again strongly urge them to promptly return home the Korean citizens taken hostage." | "We once again strongly urge them to promptly return home the Korean citizens taken hostage." |
| Baek Jong-chun, the president's chief security adviser, is to fly to Afghanistan on Thursday to work with the Afghan government to secure the hostages' release. | Baek Jong-chun, the president's chief security adviser, is to fly to Afghanistan on Thursday to work with the Afghan government to secure the hostages' release. |