Taliban 'to free' South Korean hostages

The Taliban have reportedly agreed to release all 19 South Korean hostages held in Afghanistan.

But, a South Korean presidential spokesman said it may take some time before the actual release.

South Korea's presidential Blue House said: "The Taliban agreed to free the 19 South Korean hostages on the condition that South Korea withdraws its troops within this year and halt missionary activities."

The Taliban seized 23 Korean Christian volunteers on July 19 from a bus in Ghazni province.

It killed two male hostages after a series of failed deadlines but freed two female captives as a gesture of goodwill during a first round of talks.

The negotiations failed nearly two weeks ago after the Korean team told the Taliban it could not fulfil the group's main demand to free Taliban prisoners jailed by the Afghan government in return for the freedom of the hostages.

Bang Yong-kyun, pastor at Saemmul Church, outside Seoul, where the hostages are members, said: "The families are rejoicing at the news. They are busy calling other family members and friends at the moment to pass the news."

A spokesman for the Taliban Islamic movement would only say the negotiations had been "successful" but declined to comment on the South Korean government announcement.

The kidnapping is the largest case of abductions in the resurgent Taliban's campaign since allied troops toppled the group from power in 2001.

It came a day after Taliban fighters seized two German aid workers and their five Afghan colleagues from Wardak province, which like Ghazni lies to the southwest of Kabul.

The Taliban have killed one of the Germans, but are still holding the other along with four Afghans. One Afghan managed to escape.

The Taliban are demanding the withdrawal of German troops serving under Nato's command from Afghanistan for freeing the German.

Germany has ruled out the Taliban condition.

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.