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| Taleban 'agree to free Koreans' | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Taleban militants say they have agreed to free 19 South Koreans held hostage for more than a month in Afghanistan. | |
| Seoul said the agreement was reached on condition its troops were withdrawn as scheduled by the year's end. | Seoul said the agreement was reached on condition its troops were withdrawn as scheduled by the year's end. |
| South Korea also agreed to end all missionary work in Afghanistan and stop its citizens from travelling there. | South Korea also agreed to end all missionary work in Afghanistan and stop its citizens from travelling there. |
| The rebels kidnapped 23 Christian charity workers from Ghazni province on 19 July. They subsequently killed two male hostages, and freed two women. | The rebels kidnapped 23 Christian charity workers from Ghazni province on 19 July. They subsequently killed two male hostages, and freed two women. |
| The BBC's Alastair Leithead, in Kabul, says no exact release date has been given, but the Taleban have said they will start working straight away to free them. | The BBC's Alastair Leithead, in Kabul, says no exact release date has been given, but the Taleban have said they will start working straight away to free them. |
| There has been no mention of money being paid, our correspondent adds, but it is thought that a ransom may have been part of the deal. | There has been no mention of money being paid, our correspondent adds, but it is thought that a ransom may have been part of the deal. |
| A Taleban representative, an official from the South Korean government and mediators issued a statement in Ghazni - where the 19 are being held - saying that they had come to an agreement and the hostages would be released as soon as possible. | A Taleban representative, an official from the South Korean government and mediators issued a statement in Ghazni - where the 19 are being held - saying that they had come to an agreement and the hostages would be released as soon as possible. |
| Koreans rejoice | Koreans rejoice |
| The announcement was greeted with celebrations in South Korea, where families have been waiting anxiously for news of their loved ones. | The announcement was greeted with celebrations in South Korea, where families have been waiting anxiously for news of their loved ones. |
| Cho Myung-ho, whose 28-year-old daughter Lee Joo-yeon is being held hostage, told the Associated Press: "I would like to dance." | Cho Myung-ho, whose 28-year-old daughter Lee Joo-yeon is being held hostage, told the Associated Press: "I would like to dance." |
| Kim Kyung-ja (left) and Kim Ji-na were freed earlier this month | Kim Kyung-ja (left) and Kim Ji-na were freed earlier this month |
| The Christian church that the hostages belonged to, near Seoul, said all the families were "rejoicing". | The Christian church that the hostages belonged to, near Seoul, said all the families were "rejoicing". |
| "They are busy calling other family members and friends at the moment to pass the news," Bang Yong-kyun, pastor at the Saemmul Church, told Reuters. | "They are busy calling other family members and friends at the moment to pass the news," Bang Yong-kyun, pastor at the Saemmul Church, told Reuters. |
| Tuesday's agreement came after South Korean negotiators met Taleban representatives in the central town of Ghazni. | 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. | Tribal elders and two diplomats from the Indonesian embassy in Kabul also took part in the talks. |
| Withdrawal plan | Withdrawal plan |
| It was the fourth time the two sides had held direct negotiations - all of the meetings being mediated by members of the International Committee of the Red Cross. | It was the fourth time the two sides had held direct negotiations - all of the 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Seoul had already said it planned to withdraw its troops by the end of the year. |
| Some 200 South Korean non-combat personnel are deployed in the country to help with reconstruction efforts. | Some 200 South Korean non-combat personnel are deployed in the country to help with reconstruction efforts. |