KABUL, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Taliban said it would release two female South Korean hostages, who are being held in Ghazni province of central Afghanistan, on Monday afternoon.

    The two hostages would be transferred to the International Committee of Red Cross at 4 p.m. (1130 GMT) in Ghazni province, a purported Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told Xinhua from an undisclosed place.

    Ahmadi once said the two hostages were freed on Saturday night, but apparently he gave wrong information.

    A total of 23 South Koreans were kidnapped by Taliban militants on a road in Ghazni on July 19.

    Taliban rebels killed two male hostages on July 25 and July 30 separately to press Afghan and South Korean authorities to meet their demands. The others were still being held by Taliban militants.

    The Afghan government has refused to release the Taliban prisoners whom the Taliban has demanded to exchange for the hostages.

    Taliban militants have carried out kidnappings in Afghanistan over the past two years frequently, and some hostages were killed.

Taliban: 2 female S. Korean hostages to be freed Sunday afternoon

Taliban representative Mullah Bashir (L) addresses the media in Ghazni city, Ghazni province of central Afghanistan, Aug. 11, 2007. (Xinhua/Zabi Tamanna)
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    GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Taliban leadership has ordered to free two female South Korean hostages, and they would be freed on Sunday afternoon, Taliban commander Abdullah Jan who is holding the hostages said on Sunday.

    The Taliban leadership on Saturday issued an order to release the two hostages, but they were still in Taliban custody now, the commander told Xinhua from an undisclosed place.

Taliban: Talks over Korean hostages continue

    KABUL, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Mullah Bashir who represents Taliban insurgents at the talks with South Korean delegation said Saturday that negotiation over the release of 21 Korean nationals is going on smoothly for the second day.

S Korean diplomats, Taliban delegates meet on hostages

    KABUL, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Several South Korean diplomats and two Taliban delegates carried out first face-to-face talks on 21 hostages Friday night in Ghazni province of central Afghanistan, an official said.

Spokesman: Taliban not to kill S Korean hostages before face-to-face talks

    KABUL, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Taliban would not kill more South Korean hostages before face-to-face talks between the group and South Korean diplomats take place, a purported Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said Friday.

UN chief asks for Iran's help to resolve hostage crisis in Afghanistan

    TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General BanKi-moon on Monday called for Iran's assistance to resolve the hostage-taking crisis in Afghanistan, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Taliban: 2 female S Korean hostages in very bad condition

    KABUL, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Two female South Korean hostages are in very bad condition now, and almost all of the other 19 are not in good condition, a purported Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told Xinhua from an undisclosed place on Thursday.