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Deal Reached on Hostages

Taliban, Seoul agree on terms, including withdrawal of troops

By Caroline Miller,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 28, 2007 8:14 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Talks between the Taliban and the South Korean government have resulted in the outline of a deal to release the remaining 19 hostages held in Afghanistan for over a month. The agreement involves withdrawal of Korea's 200 noncombat troops and an end to missionary activity, CNN reports, but not payment of ransom. Their release may not be imminent.

The deal on the table does not involve the freeing of political prisoners, which the kidnappers had insisted on. The Taliban has already executed two of the aid workers and released two others from the group of 23 aid workers abducted July 19.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, center, holds a national security meeting with senior officers regarding the 19 South Korean hostages' release in Afghanistan, at President House in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. Taliban militants in Afghanistan agreed to release 19 South Korean church volunteers held captive since July...
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, center, holds a national security meeting with senior officers regarding the 19 South Korean hostages' release in Afghanistan, at President House in Seoul, South...   (Associated Press)
South Koreans watch TV screen showing the group picture of the kidnapped South Koreans in Afghanistan at a railway station in Seoul in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. Taliban militants in Afghanistan agreed to release 19 South Korean church volunteers held captive since July 19, a spokesman for...
South Koreans watch TV screen showing the group picture of the kidnapped South Koreans in Afghanistan at a railway station in Seoul in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. Taliban militants in...   (Associated Press)
Taliban representatives Qari Bashir, right, as Mawlawi Nasrullah, left, seen in the vehicle of the International Committee of the Red Cross, head to the Afghan Red Crescent Society in Gazni province, where the Taliban and South Korean delegations are expected to discuss on the case of South Korean hostages, in...
Taliban representatives Qari Bashir, right, as Mawlawi Nasrullah, left, seen in the vehicle of the International Committee of the Red Cross, head to the Afghan Red Crescent Society in Gazni province,...   (Associated Press)
International Red Cross vehicles carry the Taliban representatives to the Afghan Red Crescent Society of Gazni province, where the Taliban and Korean delegations will discuss for fate of the Korean hostages in the city of Ghazni province, west of Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
International Red Cross vehicles carry the Taliban representatives to the Afghan Red Crescent Society of Gazni province, where the Taliban and Korean delegations will discuss for fate of the Korean hostages...   (Associated Press)
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, left, holds a national security meeting with senior officers regarding the 19 South Korean hostages' release in Afghanistan, at President House in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. Taliban militants in Afghanistan agreed to release 19 South Korean church volunteers held captive since July...
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, left, holds a national security meeting with senior officers regarding the 19 South Korean hostages' release in Afghanistan, at President House in Seoul, South Korea,...   (Associated Press)
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Afghanistan • Taliban • South Korea • kidnapping • missionary • Korean hostages • hostage

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