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/south_asia/6944333.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Taleban free two S Korea hostages | Taleban free two S Korea hostages |
(about 6 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 pair, both women, were brought to a meeting point pre-arranged with the Taleban and handed to the International Committee of the Red Cross. | |
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 two women, who were wearing headscarves and were in tears, got into the ICRC car and were driven to the nearby town of Ghazni, our correspondent says. | |
I have a very heavy heart rather than have a happy heart Sun Yun-jaMother of a released hostage | I have a very heavy heart rather than have a happy heart Sun Yun-jaMother of a released hostage |
There, they were expected to meet South Korean delegates who have been negotiating with two Taleban officials to secure the hostages' release. | |
An ICRC official told the BBC the Taleban had earlier contacted the organisation to request that it play a role in the handover. He said the ICRC would willingly repeat such a role if requested. | |
The women, who were photographed walking to the 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. | 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." | "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." | "I have a very heavy heart, rather than have a happy heart." |
Christian captives | Christian 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. | 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. | 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. |