Taliban agree to release S Korean hostages

Taliban militants in Afghanistan have agreed to release 19 South Korean church volunteers held captive since July 19, a spokesman for the insurgents and the South Korean government said today.

Qari Yousef Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, said South Korean and Taliban delegates at face-to-face talks today in the central town of Ghazni had “reached an agreement” to release the captives.

In Seoul, South Korean presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-sun confirmed a deal had been reached.

“We welcome the agreement to release 19 South Koreans,” said Cheon Ho-sun.

No details as to the terms of the agreement were immediately available.