Afghans may use force if hostage talks fail

REUTERS ^ | July 28, 2007 | Samar Zwak

[period end of story]

GHAZNI, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A female hostage among the remaining 22 Koreans held by Taliban fighters appealed on Saturday for a speedy end to their ordeal, as a senior Afghan official said force may be used to free them if talks fail.

The woman, one of 18 female hostages among the South Korean Christian volunteers kidnapped in Afghanistan more than a week ago, spoke to Reuters on the mobile phone of a Taliban fighter.

"We are tired and being moved from one location to another," she said in broken Dari, one of the main languages in Afghanistan.

"We are kept in separate groups and are not aware of each other. We ask the Taliban and the government to release us," she said. Pronunciation of her name could not be understood by a Reuters reporter who spoke to her.

Earlier Munir Mangal, a deputy interior minister, said negotiators were attempting to hold more talks with the Taliban.

"We believe in the talks and if dialogue fails then we will resort to other means," he told Reuters. When asked if that meant use of force, he replied: "Certainly".

[johnny7]

Send in Obama...

[period end of story]

I guess Jesse Jackson wants no part of trying to free the Koreans either.

Hopefully the remaining hostages get out alive.

[NormsRevenge]

If any more harm befalls the remaining hostages, those who perpetrated this kidnapping should be hunted down and prosecuted with extreme prejudice and their villages razed and burned to the ground. (Gee, I almost sound like a Russky, huh? oh well.)

[NormsRevenge]

A photo released July 21 shows South Korean Christians posing for a group photograph before leaving for Afghanistan on July 13. (Yonhap/Reuters)