International   

Call for hostage release

SEOUL: South Korea expressed outrage after the Taliban killed a captive Korean pastor in Afghanistan, warning on Thursday that those involved would be held responsible and renewing a call on the militant group to immediately release the remaining 22 hostages. South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun spoke again on Thursday with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai and they agreed to fully cooperate for the safety of the remaining South Korean captives and their quick release, Mr. Roh’s office said.

Presidential spokesman Chun Ho-sun said the hostages were not known to have any health problems. Despite earlier reports that some had been freed, he said Seoul believed 22 remained in captivity.

Mr. Chun added that both Governments were cooperating and that an Afghan official had told South Korea earlier on Thursday that Kabul intended to negotiate with the Taliban. He said Seoul is aware of the Taliban’s current demands but declined to specify them.

Seoul also repeated its call that no rescue mission be launched that could endanger the captives further. — AP

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

U.S. prediction of chaos has not materialised: Raul
U.K. Minister seeks to soothe Pakistan’s ruffled feathers
Call for hostage release
Nepal faces food insecurity: U.N.
Pakistan test-fires Hatf 7
Promise to establish new order
Five British Pakistanis jailed on terror charges
Remains of extinct elephant discovered in Greece
Rajapaksa hails Pratibha’s election
Australia to ‘negotiate’ uranium sale to India
N-deal: lawmakers warn Bush administration
We have our facts right: Keelty
Hu writes to Pratibha on firming up ties

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu