UN concerned for hostages' health

Militants threatening to kill three UN hostages - including Armagh woman Annetta Flanigan - said talks were to begin with Afghan and UN officials today, 10 days after the victims were abducted at gunpoint on a street in the capital.

Manwhile, the United Nations expressed growing concern for their well-being, and appealed along with President Hamid Karzai and Afghanistan’s top general for their immediate release.