Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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August 18, 2007

German Woman Kidnapped in Afghan Capital
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=18C94F6:A6F02AD83191E16044C19F73DFD4A22E9574F7DCC14957C0 News of abduction
came as Taleban militants holding 19 South Koreans said negotiations
have failed Officials say gunmen have kidnapped a German aid worker
from a restaurant in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.







Policemen stand guard outside the restaurant where a German woman was
kidnapped in Kabul, 18 Aug  2007Afghan Security officials say the
abductors forced the woman into a car Saturday and sped away.

According to reports, Afghan police responding to the incident opened
fire on the alleged getaway car, but missed and killed a nearby taxi
driver.

An official of an aid group, Ora International, confirmed the
kidnapped woman worked for the organization.

Also Saturday, Taleban militants holding 19 South Koreans said
negotiations have failed and the insurgents' leadership council is
deciding the fate of the hostages.

A Taleban spokesman said Saturday that face-to-face negotiations with
South Korean officials broke down Thursday, the day they started.

The spokesman said further talks were unlikely because the Afghan
government has refused to release some Taleban militants in a prisoner
exchange.

Two South Korean women returned home Friday after being released by
the Taleban on Monday. They urged the Taleban to free the remaining 19
hostages.

Taleban militants abducted 23 South Korean Christian aid workers on
July 19 while they traveled through Ghazni province on a humanitarian
mission. Two male hostages were executed late last month.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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