AMERICAN and Afghan forces searching for three kidnapped UN workers, including Annetta Flanigan from Co Armagh, smashed their way into a number of Kabul houses yesterday.

American and Afghan forces searching for three kidnapped UN workers smashed their way into a number of Kabul houses today.

Militants threatening to kill three UN hostages claimed today that talks to swap them for jailed comrades were progressing, even as an American general urged a tough line against the kidnappers. st week in police custody had been tortured.

Three UN workers kidnapped three weeks ago in the Afghan capital remain out of reach, a government official said today, as fresh appeals were made for their release.

Negotiations on the fate of three UN workers, including an Irish woman, kidnapped in Afghanistan have snagged over ransom demands, officials said today.

The purported leader of Taliban-linked militants holding three United Nations hostages, including Armagh woman Annetta Flanigan, said his group was split over whether they should “get rid” of the captives.

The UN appealed today to the Taliban-linked kidnappers of three of its staff in Afghanistan to release them in time for a Muslim festival starting this weekend.

Militants threatening to kill three foreign hostages today - including Annetta Flanigan from Armagh - said negotiations with Afghan and UN officials had been postponed for another day.

Militants threatening to kill three foreign hostages said negotiations with Afghan and UN officials began in southern Afghanistan today.

Efforts to free three foreign hostages threatened with death by a Taliban splinter group have reached a “sensitive” stage, the US military said today, and urged the kidnappers not to harm them.

Militants claiming to hold three UN hostages in Afghanistan, including Annetta Flanigan of Northern Ireland, said tonight they had delayed a decision on their fate.

Militants claiming to hold three United Nations hostages in Afghanistan, including Northern Irish woman Annetta Flanigan who is said to be “seriously ill”, said they would decide today whether to kill them.

AFGHAN militants claiming to hold three UN hostages, including an Irish woman, said talks on demands including the release of Taliban prisoners had broken down yesterday.

Afghan militants claiming to hold three UN hostages, including Irish woman Annetta Flanigan, said talks on demands including the release of Taliban prisoners had broken down today.

Afghan militants threatening to kill three UN hostages, including Northern Ireland's Annetta Flanigan, pushed back the deadline for their deaths until midnight today – 7.30pm Irish time.