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Force May Be Used to Free Korean Hostages

In phone call, female hostage pleads for release

By Heather McPherson,  Newser User

Posted Jul 28, 2007 3:49 PM CDT

(Newser) – One of the 22 South Korean hostages held in Afghanistan spoke to a Reuters reporter today, saying she and the other remaining hostages are continually moved to different locations. She appealed to both the Taliban and the Afghan government to free them.
A senior Afghan official said force “certainly” will be used if necessary to free the captives, Reuters reports.

The government has pledged not to exchange captured Taliban fighters for the Koreans, a deal the Taliban wants and says it has been promised. President Hamid Karzai drew criticism in March for releasing five Taliban prisoners in exchange for an Italian reporter. The leader of the captured church group was shot to death Wednesday.

South Korean relatives place flowers in front of slain pastor Bae Hyung-kyu's portrait, who was among the 23 South Koreans kidnapped in Afghanistan, in Jeju, south of Seoul, South Korea, Friday, July 27, 2007. Afghan clerics and tribal elders on Friday intensified negotiations for the release of 22 South Koreans...
South Korean relatives place flowers in front of slain pastor Bae Hyung-kyu's portrait, who was among the 23 South Koreans kidnapped in Afghanistan, in Jeju, south of Seoul, South Korea, Friday, July...   (Associated Press)
Kim Hee-yeon, widow of slain South Korean pastor Bae Hyung-kyu, who was among the 23 South Koreans kidnapped in Afghanistan, reacts during a news conference asking for the release of the remaining 22 South Korean hostages in Sungnam, south of Seoul, South Saturday, July 28, 2007.  The family of a...
Kim Hee-yeon, widow of slain South Korean pastor Bae Hyung-kyu, who was among the 23 South Koreans kidnapped in Afghanistan, reacts during a news conference asking for the release of the remaining 22...   (Associated Press)
South Korean protesters shout slogans during an anti-war rally in Seoul, demanding the safe return of South Koreans kidnapped in Afghanistan and the withdrawal of South Korean troops stationed there Saturday, July 28, 2007. The family of a South Korean pastor killed in Afghanistan asked Saturday that the planned repatriation...
South Korean protesters shout slogans during an anti-war rally in Seoul, demanding the safe return of South Koreans kidnapped in Afghanistan and the withdrawal of South Korean troops stationed there Saturday,...   (Associated Press)
An Afghan police officer stands guard in Ghazni city, west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, July 28, 2007. A former Taliban member and several influential elders have joined negotiations with the hard-line militia to step up pressure for the release of 22 South Korean hostages, an official said Saturday. (AP Photo/Rahmat...
An Afghan police officer stands guard in Ghazni city, west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, July 28, 2007. A former Taliban member and several influential elders have joined negotiations with the hard-line...   (Associated Press)
Kim Hee-yeon, widow of slain South Korean pastor Bae Hyung-kyu, who was among the 23 South Koreans kidnapped in Afghanistan, cries during a news conference asking for the release of the remaining 22 South Korean hostages in Sungnam, south of Seoul, South Korea, Friday, July 27, 2007. Afghan clerics and...
Kim Hee-yeon, widow of slain South Korean pastor Bae Hyung-kyu, who was among the 23 South Koreans kidnapped in Afghanistan, cries during a news conference asking for the release of the remaining 22 South...   (Associated Press)
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