ICRC confirms release of 2 S Korean hostages

Source: Xinhuanet | 08-14-2007 08:53

GENEVA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed on Monday that it had facilitated the release of two South Korean hostages held by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The two women were among 23 South Koreans kidnapped by Taliban militants on July 19. Two male captives were executed at the end of July.

ICRC personnel handed over the two hostages on Monday to a South Korean delegation in the town of Ghazni, around two hours southwest of the capital Kabul, the Geneva-based humanitarian agency said in a statement.

"The ICRC is relieved that two hostages have been released and that they can now rejoin their families back home," said Reto Stocker, head of the ICRC delegation in Kabul.

The ICRC also expressed optimism that that the remaining 19 hostages would also be released in the near future.

The ICRC has served as a neutral intermediary at the request of both the Taliban militants and the South Korean delegation, the statement said.

It facilitated direct talks between both parties in Ghazni over the weekend.

Editor:Du Xiaodan