Efforts underway to free hostages at 'sensitive' stage

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 the UN election workers - including Northern Irish woman Annetta Flanigan - have extended a deadline until late today to decide their fate. They have said they will kill them unless the United Nations leaves Afghanistan and Taliban prisoners are freed.