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Taleban free two S Korea hostages Taleban free two S Korea hostages
(about 8 hours later)
The Taleban have freed two members of a group of South Korean hostages abducted in Afghanistan.The Taleban have freed two members of a group of South Korean hostages abducted in Afghanistan.
The women were brought to a meeting point pre-arranged with the Taleban and handed over to officials from the Afghan Red Crescent. The pair, both women, were brought to a meeting point pre-arranged with the Taleban and handed over to the Afghan Red Crescent.
They were said to have been released partly because they were in poor health and partly as a goodwill gesture after talks with South Korean officials.They were said to have been released partly because they were in poor health and partly as a goodwill gesture after talks with South Korean officials.
Two of the 23 South Koreans captured three weeks ago have been killed.Two of the 23 South Koreans captured three weeks ago have been killed.
The location of Monday's release was close where the bodies of the two male hostages were found last month, says the BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul.The location of Monday's release was close where the bodies of the two male hostages were found last month, says the BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul.
South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed that the two women had been freed.South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed that the two women had been freed.
"Heavy heart"
The governor of Ghazni province, Mirajudin Patan, told the BBC the two women were on their way to an office of the Afghan Red Crescent.The governor of Ghazni province, Mirajudin Patan, told the BBC the two women were on their way to an office of the Afghan Red Crescent.
I have a very heavy heart rather than have a happy heart Sun Yun-jaMother of a released hostage
"We will be talking to them shortly to find as much information as we can," he added."We will be talking to them shortly to find as much information as we can," he added.
The women, who were photographed walking to the Red Crescent car, were said to be in "fair" health, our correspondent says.The women, who were photographed walking to the Red Crescent car, were said to be in "fair" health, our correspondent says.
The mother of one of the released hostages, Sun Yun-ja, said it was difficult to be happy about the releases.
"Two came back as bodies, two will return as being sick - I am really sorry for the family members of the remaining 19 hostages."
"I have a very heavy heart, rather than have a happy heart."
Christian captivesChristian captives
There had been confusion over the releases, with a Taleban spokesman telling reporters on Saturday that the two had already been freed, before saying the timing of the release had yet to be decided.There had been confusion over the releases, with a Taleban spokesman telling reporters on Saturday that the two had already been freed, before saying the timing of the release had yet to be decided.
A new timing of 1130 GMT Monday, announced by the same spokesman, Yusuf Ahmadi, then passed with no news of any hostage releases.A new timing of 1130 GMT Monday, announced by the same spokesman, Yusuf Ahmadi, then passed with no news of any hostage releases.
The Taleban said the two women were released because they were sick and as a goodwill gesture.
They say they want Taleban imprisoned by the Afghan government to be set free if the other Koreans, most of whom are women, are to be released.
The South Koreans, all Christian aid workers, were seized on 19 July.The South Koreans, all Christian aid workers, were seized on 19 July.
The original group of 23 - most of them women - was captured on the main road from Kabul to Kandahar.The original group of 23 - most of them women - was captured on the main road from Kabul to Kandahar.
It is thought the remaining South Korean hostages are being held in a number of small groups in a village about 10km (six miles) from Ghazni.It is thought the remaining South Korean hostages are being held in a number of small groups in a village about 10km (six miles) from Ghazni.