UN chief welcomes release of 19 remaining South Korean hostages
31/8/2007 16:22
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed yesterday the release of the
19 remaining South Korean hostages held by the Taliban for over six weeks.
In
a statement released by his spokesperson, Ban commended the efforts of the
Afghan authorities, and of all those who have assisted with the negotiations to
obtain their release.
Despite the tragic death of two of the hostages in
July, Ban said he was happy that those released are now on their way to being
safely reunited with their loved ones.
The secretary-general remained deeply
concerned for the safety and welfare of other nationals who are being held
against their will in Afghanistan.
He deplored the ongoing abductions and
senseless murders of innocent civilians in Afghanistan.
The last seven South
Korean hostages were released by Taliban militants in Afghanistan yesterday,
finally bringing the crisis to an end.
A total of 23 South Koreans were
kidnapped by Taliban militants on a road in Ghazni province on July
19.
Taliban rebels shot dead two male hostages on July 25 and July 30
separately to press Afghan and South Korean authorities to meet their main
demand, which was the release of some Taliban prisoners.
Two female hostages
were released on Aug. 13 in what the Taliban described as "a good gesture"
toward South Korean authorities.
Xinhua
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