Taliban sets noon Monday as hostage deadline

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Source: CCTV.com | 07-30-2007 08:50

The Taliban has set a new deadline for executing the 22 South Korean hostages held in Afghanistan by noon Monday local time unless the Afghan government release 23 detained militants. Sunday was the 11th day of the hostage crisis. Negotiations on the release of the hostages are continuing.

It's the seventh deadline set by the Taliban for executing the 22 South Korean hostages if their conditions are not met.

The Afghan government says there has been no breakthrough in Sunday's negotiations. Meanwhile, a Taliban spokesman emphasized the only way for the safe release of the South Korean hostages is through negotiations and any attempt to solve the issue through force will cost the lives of the hostages.

He warned that the Taliban will start killing the hostages if the Afghan government does not start releasing Taliban militants by Monday noon.