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WORLD / Asia-Pacific
Taliban release 8 South Korean hostages
(AP)
Updated: 2007-08-29 19:28
“Maybe they (the Taliban) did not achieve all that they demanded, but
they achieved a lot in terms of political credibility,” said Mustafa
Alani, director of security and terrorism studies at the Dubai-based Gulf
Research Center. “The fact that the Koreans negotiated with them directly
and more or less in their territory … is in itself an achievement.”
Five released South Korean hostages walk in the city of Ghazni August 29,
2007. Taliban insurgents freed eight South Korean hostages in two
separate batches on Wednesday, the first of 19 Christian volunteers the
Taliban agreed to release. [Reuters]
State Department spokesman Tom Casey said Tuesday that the US wanted the
Koreans returned to their families and stressed that US policy was not to
make concessions to terrorists.
The deal for the hostages’ release was struck during talks between
Taliban negotiators and South Korean diplomats in the central city of
Ghazni. The Afghan government was not party to the negotiations, which
were mediated by the ICRC.
The hostages’ relatives in South Korea welcomed news of the deal.
“I would like to dance,” said Cho Myung-ho, mother of 28-year-old hostage
Lee Joo-yeon.
South Korean presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-sun said the deal had been
reached “on the condition that South Korea withdraws troops by the end of
the year and South Korea suspends missionary work in Afghanistan.”
Cha Sung-min, whose 32-year-old sister, Cha Hye-jin, was among the
hostages, said he was “sorry to the public for causing concern, but we
thank the government officials for the (impending) release.”
“Still, our hearts are broken as two died, so we convey our sympathy to
the bereaved family members,” said Cha Sung-min, who has served as a
spokesman for the hostages’ relatives.
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