Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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July 30, 2007

No Word on Fate of Kidnapped South Koreans
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=184DD8C:A6F02AD83191E1600DA6EA93F640CE5F9574F7DCC14957C0 Earlier deadline
passed with no word about fate of hostages, who were abducted July 19





Relatives of South Koreans kidnapped in Afghanistan react as they
watch a news reports, 30 Jul 2007There is no word on the fate of 22
South Korean hostages held by Afghan Taleban militants following the
expiration of two deadlines Monday.

Taleban militants had extended an earlier deadline by four hours
(until 4 p.m. local time/11:30 UTC) to continue negotiations for their
release.

Kidnappers had threatened to start killing the 22 South Koreans unless
the Afghan government agreed to free Taleban prisoners.

The leader of the South Korean captives was shot to death last week,
but several other threats to begin killing the remaining hostages have
not be carried out. 

The group of Christian aid workers were abducted July 19th while
traveling by bus to southern Kandahar, a Taleban stronghold.  They
came to Afghanistan to do humanitarian work.

Earlier Monday, female hostage Yoo Jung-hwa pleaded for help during a
telephone call to reporters.

She said she and the other hostages are very scared, and that their
captors threaten to kill them one by one.

The body of the slain captive arrived home Monday. However his family
members said there would be no funeral until the 22 remaining hostages
are freed. 

President Hamid Karzai, meeting with a South Korean presidential envoy
about the hostage crisis, denounced what he called the kidnappers'
"total contempt" for traditional Islamic and Afghan values.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.




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