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Taleban 'agree to free' hostages Taleban 'agree to free hostages'
(40 minutes later)
The Taleban in Afghanistan have agreed to release the 19 South Korean hostages held for over five weeks, according to the South Korean presidential office. Taleban fighters have agreed to release 19 South Korean hostages held for more than five weeks in Afghanistan, the South Korean president's office says.
Spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said the agreement was reached on condition that Seoul withdraws its troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year. Spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said the agreement was reached on condition that Seoul withdrew its troops as scheduled from Afghanistan by the year's end.
The Taleban kidnapped 23 South Korean Christian charity workers from Ghazni province in July. The Taleban kidnapped 23 South Korean Christian charity workers from Ghazni province on 19 July.
They later killed two of the male hostages, and released two women. They subsequently killed two male hostages, and released two women.
AFP news agency reported an Afghan tribal chief as saying that the hostages would be freed "in three or four days".AFP news agency reported an Afghan tribal chief as saying that the hostages would be freed "in three or four days".
But Mr Cheon said the exact timing of their release could not yet be confirmed, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.But Mr Cheon said the exact timing of their release could not yet be confirmed, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.
Mr Cheon also said South Korea had agreed to a ban on its nationals' Christian missionary work in the country.Mr Cheon also said South Korea had agreed to a ban on its nationals' Christian missionary work in the country.
Direct talks
Tuesday's agreement came after South Korean negotiators met Taleban representatives in the central town of Ghazni.
Tribal elders and two diplomats from the Indonesian embassy in Kabul also took part in the talks.
It was the fourth time the two sides had held direct negotiations - all of meetings being mediated by members of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
But it was the first time the sides had met since two of the female hostages were freed two weeks ago.
The South Koreans were seized in Ghazni province as they travelled by bus along the main Kandahar to Kabul highway.
In late July, the Taleban murdered two of the male hostages - the group's pastor, 42-year-old Bae Hyung-kyu, and former IT worker Shim Sung-min, 29.
Seoul had already said it planned to withdraw its troops by the end of the year.
Some 200 South Korean soldiers are deployed in the country to help with reconstruction efforts.