Force May Be Used to Free Korean Hostages

In phone call, female hostage pleads for release
By Heather McPherson,  Newser User
Posted Jul 28, 2007 3:49 PM CDT
Force May Be Used to Free Korean Hostages
South Korean relatives place flowers in front of slain pastor Bae Hyung-kyu's portrait, who was among the 23 South Koreans kidnapped in Afghanistan, in Jeju, south of Seoul, South Korea, Friday, July 27, 2007. Afghan clerics and tribal elders on Friday intensified negotiations for the release of 22...   (Associated Press)

One of the 22 South Korean hostages held in Afghanistan spoke to a Reuters reporter today, saying she and the other remaining hostages are continually moved to different locations. She appealed to both the Taliban and the Afghan government to free them.
A senior Afghan official said force “certainly” will be used if necessary to free the captives, Reuters reports.

The government has pledged not to exchange captured Taliban fighters for the Koreans, a deal the Taliban wants and says it has been promised. President Hamid Karzai drew criticism in March for releasing five Taliban prisoners in exchange for an Italian reporter. The leader of the captured church group was shot to death Wednesday. (More Taliban stories.)

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