Relatives of the hostages have been waiting anxiously
for news
|
A South Korean woman held hostage with 21
others in Afghanistan has pleaded for help to secure their release.
The woman, who identified herself as Yo Syun Ju, told an Afghan
reporter by telephone all the hostages were sick.
"Tell them to do something to get us released," she said in an
interview carried out in the presence of the Taleban militants holding
her captive.
A group of 23 Koreans was abducted a week ago. The kidnappers have
since killed one of the hostages.
In an interview obtained by the BBC from an Afghan journalist, Ms Yo,
who said she was from Seoul, described her situation as "dangerous",
adding: "Day by day it is getting very difficult...
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SAEMMUL COMMUNITY CHURCH
Based in Bundang, on southern outskirts of Seoul
One of a number of big Presbyterian churches in South
Korea, with about 1,500 members
Funds social programmes in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the
Middle East
Sends volunteers from the church to work on projects for
short stints
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"We are all sick and we have a lot of problems."
The hostages are aid workers for a Christian group.
The Koreans, who are mostly women, were abducted one week ago in
Ghazni province, south-west of the capital Kabul.
The Taleban have threatened to kill the hostages if the Afghan
government refused to meet their demands.
On Wednesday, the body of one of the hostages - later identified as
42-year-old pastor Bae Hyung-kyu - was found with multiple bullet wounds
in Ghazni.
The office of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun
condemned the killing as an "inhumane act".
The Seoul government has sent an envoy to Afghanistan to negotiate
the remaining hostages' release.
Following an increase in insurgent attacks, Afghan police have banned
foreigners from travelling outside Kabul without their permission, the
Associated Press news agency reports.
There has been an increase in kidnappings, as well as more frequent
clashes between Taleban and foreign troops, roadside bombings and
suicide attacks in recent months.
After the mass kidnapping, South Korea banned its citizens from
travelling to Afghanistan.
>> Thank you very much for that update. From me shortly join
Allister.
You've got a news on plight of
the Korean hostages.
One of the South Korean hostage
has pleaded for help to secure
their release.
Identifying herself as Im Hyon-joo and
she told the bbc news that she was
sick and in terrible situation.
Negotiations have intensified to
save the remaining 22 hostages
after the leader of their group
a Christian pastor was shot dead
by the captors.
The Taleban now has extended a deadline
of the group's release to Friday mid-day.
The aid workers, most of them
are women, were seized in Ghazni
province a week
ago.
