Taliban militants in Afghanistan today released eight of 19 South Korean captives they promised to free under a deal struck with the South Korean government to resolve a hostage crisis that began almost six weeks ago.

TWO women among the 23 South Koreans kidnapped by the Taliban in mid-July were freed yesterday on a rural Afghan roadside and then driven to a US base, the first significant breakthrough in a hostage drama that is more than three weeks old.

President Roh Moo-hyun held a special meeting with aides today to discuss the US campus shooting, as the public expressed shame over a South Korean citizen being identified as the gunman.