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| Taleban 'release two S Koreans' | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Taleban militants in Afghanistan say they have freed two women from among the 21 South Korean hostages they are holding as a "gesture of goodwill". | Taleban militants in Afghanistan say they have freed two women from among the 21 South Korean hostages they are holding as a "gesture of goodwill". |
| Taleban negotiators, who have been holding talks with a South Korean delegation in the city of Ghazni, had said earlier a deal could be near. | |
| No Afghan or South Korean officials have been able to confirm the release. | |
| The South Korean Christian aid workers were seized last month. Two have already been killed by the rebels. | The South Korean Christian aid workers were seized last month. Two have already been killed by the rebels. |
| "Our leadership council decided to free unconditionally and as a gesture of goodwill two women hostages who are sick," spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told AFP news agency. | |
| Another spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, said the move would "show that we're honest in our talks and expect the government to be honest and free our prisoners". | |
| Swap ruled out | |
| The second day of talks, which were held in the central city of Ghazni, had already ended with no apparent resolution. | |
| The rebels are demanding the release of comrades held by the Afghan government. | |
| But the Afghan government, stung by criticism over a previous prisoner exchange, has ruled out a swap to secure the release of the Koreans. | |
| The original group of 23 - most of them women - was seized on 19 July as they travelled by bus on the main road from Kabul to Kandahar. | |
| The two men who were killed included the leader of the group. | |
| It is thought the South Korean aid workers are being held in a number of small groups in a village about 10km (six miles) from Ghazni. |