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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Taleban 'release two S Koreans' | Taleban 'release two S Koreans' |
| (about 1 hour 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 that 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. |
| A Taleban spokesman, Yousuf Ahmadi, told the BBC the two women were sick and that the Taleban had freed them as a sign of goodwill. | A Taleban spokesman, Yousuf Ahmadi, told the BBC the two women were sick and that the Taleban had freed them as a sign of goodwill. |
| However, Mr Ahmadi has at times given false information, reports the BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul. | However, Mr Ahmadi has at times given false information, reports the BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul. |
| Another Taleban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, told AFP news agency the move would "show that we're honest in our talks and expect the government to be honest and free our prisoners". | Another Taleban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, told AFP news agency 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 | Swap ruled out |
| The announcement came after a second day of talks in the central city of Ghazni. | The announcement came after a second day of talks in the central city of Ghazni. |
| 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 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 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. | 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. | 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. |