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/americas/6933063.stm

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hostage pressure on Karzai, Bush Hostage pressure on Karzai, Bush
(40 minutes later)
Afghan leader Hamid Karzai is meeting US President George W Bush amid renewed fears for the fate of 21 South Korean hostages still held by the Taleban.Afghan leader Hamid Karzai is meeting US President George W Bush amid renewed fears for the fate of 21 South Korean hostages still held by the Taleban.
Afghan security is the key issue in the leaders' two-day meeting at Camp David near Washington.Afghan security is the key issue in the leaders' two-day meeting at Camp David near Washington.
Two South Koreans from the abducted group have already been killed.Two South Koreans from the abducted group have already been killed.
Qari Yousaf, who claims to speak for the Taleban, said if there was no prisoner exchange, the hostages' fate would be the leaders' responsibility.Qari Yousaf, who claims to speak for the Taleban, said if there was no prisoner exchange, the hostages' fate would be the leaders' responsibility.
The Korean hostages - Christian aid workers, 18 of whom are women - were seized on 19 July as they travelled on a bus down the Kabul to Kandahar highway.The Korean hostages - Christian aid workers, 18 of whom are women - were seized on 19 July as they travelled on a bus down the Kabul to Kandahar highway.
'Premature''Premature'
Mr Yousaf said the Taleban had been told by South Korean negotiators that the South Korean president had asked Mr Bush to help with an exchange for Taleban prisoners.Mr Yousaf said the Taleban had been told by South Korean negotiators that the South Korean president had asked Mr Bush to help with an exchange for Taleban prisoners.
"We know that Karzai and Bush will discuss this. If the exchange doesn't take place the responsibility of the hostages will be that of Karzai and Bush," Mr Yousaf said."We know that Karzai and Bush will discuss this. If the exchange doesn't take place the responsibility of the hostages will be that of Karzai and Bush," Mr Yousaf said.
We are all sick and want to meet our families again at home Hostage, quoted by Yonhap news agency We are all sick and want to meet our families again at home Hostage, quoted by Yonhap news agency class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6931631.stm">Taleban dominate talks class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6933029.stm">Dangerous desert
He also told the BBC that the Taleban would continue its kidnapping policy whether or not there was an exchange.He also told the BBC that the Taleban would continue its kidnapping policy whether or not there was an exchange.
In Seoul, a South Korean presidential spokesman said the government wanted to "work separately" from the Bush-Karzai summit to resolve the issue.In Seoul, a South Korean presidential spokesman said the government wanted to "work separately" from the Bush-Karzai summit to resolve the issue.
"It is inappropriate to have any premature expectations or to overly interpret the summit," he said."It is inappropriate to have any premature expectations or to overly interpret the summit," he said.
About 100 protesters rallied near the US embassy in Seoul on Monday and handed in a letter addressed to Mr Bush.About 100 protesters rallied near the US embassy in Seoul on Monday and handed in a letter addressed to Mr Bush.
A demonstrator in Seoul protests against US policy in AfghanistanA demonstrator in Seoul protests against US policy in Afghanistan
"The US must assume responsibility for the kidnapping of our people in Afghanistan. The incident was caused by the US war of aggression," it read."The US must assume responsibility for the kidnapping of our people in Afghanistan. The incident was caused by the US war of aggression," it read.
Two of the hostages are said to be seriously ill and a private Afghan clinic said antibiotics, pain killers, vitamins and heart pills had been left in an area of desert in Ghazni province, where the hostages are being held, as specified by the militants.Two of the hostages are said to be seriously ill and a private Afghan clinic said antibiotics, pain killers, vitamins and heart pills had been left in an area of desert in Ghazni province, where the hostages are being held, as specified by the militants.
An official in Seoul said the South Korean government had had its first telephone contact with one of the hostages on Saturday.An official in Seoul said the South Korean government had had its first telephone contact with one of the hostages on Saturday.
The Yonhap news agency said it had also spoken to hostages by telephone and was told they had been split into several groups.The Yonhap news agency said it had also spoken to hostages by telephone and was told they had been split into several groups.
It reported one captive as saying: "We are all sick and want to meet our families again at home... the Taleban point guns at us and threaten to kill us if the Korean government does not accept their demands."It reported one captive as saying: "We are all sick and want to meet our families again at home... the Taleban point guns at us and threaten to kill us if the Korean government does not accept their demands."
Plans for a direct meeting between negotiators and the Taleban have yet to overcome problems about a venue.Plans for a direct meeting between negotiators and the Taleban have yet to overcome problems about a venue.
In Washington, Mr Karzai said he would do everything he could to have the hostages released, short of "anything that will encourage hostage-taking, that will encourage terrorism".In Washington, Mr Karzai said he would do everything he could to have the hostages released, short of "anything that will encourage hostage-taking, that will encourage terrorism".
Iran disagreementIran disagreement
Other key items on the Karzai-Bush agenda are likely to be the growing number of civilians killed in coalition military operations, the drug trade and economic development.Other key items on the Karzai-Bush agenda are likely to be the growing number of civilians killed in coalition military operations, the drug trade and economic development.
Mr Karzai is concerned about the number of civilian casualtiesMr Karzai is concerned about the number of civilian casualties
Mr Bush is also expected to urge Mr Karzai to root out corruption.Mr Bush is also expected to urge Mr Karzai to root out corruption.
One apparent matter of dispute was Iran.One apparent matter of dispute was Iran.
The US has accused Tehran of supplying weapons to the Taleban.The US has accused Tehran of supplying weapons to the Taleban.
But Mr Karzai appeared to deny such claims in an interview with CNN.But Mr Karzai appeared to deny such claims in an interview with CNN.
"Iran has been a supporter of Afghanistan, in the peace process that we have and the fight against terror, and the fight against narcotics in Afghanistan," he said."Iran has been a supporter of Afghanistan, in the peace process that we have and the fight against terror, and the fight against narcotics in Afghanistan," he said.
Mr Karzai also said there was no encouraging news on the whereabouts of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.Mr Karzai also said there was no encouraging news on the whereabouts of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.
"We are not closer, we are not further away from [finding him]. We are where we were a few years ago," Mr Karzai said."We are not closer, we are not further away from [finding him]. We are where we were a few years ago," Mr Karzai said.
The Afghan president is also concerned about increasing civilian deaths in coalition military operations. Recently he accused the coalition of "extreme use of force".The Afghan president is also concerned about increasing civilian deaths in coalition military operations. Recently he accused the coalition of "extreme use of force".