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S Korea urges release of hostages S Korea urges release of hostages
(about 2 hours 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 Seoul government condemned the Taleban for the death of one of the hostages on Wednesday, and sent an envoy to negotiate the others' release.
A Taleban deadline for a prisoner swap passed without incident. The remaining hostages are thought to be alive. However a Taleban commander called the abduction of foreigners, to be traded for Taleban prisoners, "a very successful policy".
Meanwhile a Taleban leader said he was encouraging the kidnap of foreigners to trade for Taleban prisoners. Meanwhile, the US military said 50 Taleban fighters were killed elsewhere.
Military commander Mansour Dadullah told UK Channel 4 TV he was in close contact with al-Qaeda. It said US and Afghan troops and US planes targeted a number of compounds in the southern province of Helmand during a 12-hour assault.
Travel bans Increasing unrest
Mr Dadullah himself was freed with four other Taleban members in exchange for a kidnapped Italian journalist earlier this year. Following an increase in insurgent attacks, Afghan police have banned foreigners from travelling outside Kabul without their permission, Associated Press news agency said.
There have been increases in kidnappings, as well as clashes between Taleban and foreign troops, roadside bombings and suicide attacks in recent months.
South Korean rallies have called for the release of the hostages
After the mass kidnapping, South Korea banned its citizens from travelling to Afghanistan.
But the Taleban's military commander Mansour Dadullah told Britain's Channel 4 television that kidnapping would continue.
"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. Mr Dadullah himself was freed with four other Taleban members in exchange for a kidnapped Italian journalist earlier this year.
And South Korea is banning any more of its citizens from travelling to Afghanistan. He also said he was in close contact with al-Qaeda.
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.
'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. The Taleban said it would start killing the hostages if a deadline on Wednesday passed without their demands being met. However, a spokesman said on Thursday that the remaining hostages were still alive.
There was no way of confirming if that was true.
Baek Jong-chun, the president's chief security adviser, is to fly to Afghanistan on Thursday to work with the Afghan government to try to secure the hostages' release.