·The Taliban have agreed to free 19 South Korean hostages kidnapped in Afghanistan.
·The South Korean government welcomes the agreement on the hostage release.
·The actual timing for the hostage release cannot be confirmed for now.  

    SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Taliban have agreed to free 19 South Korean hostages kidnapped in Afghanistan following a negotiation with South Korean officials, said South Korean Presidential Office Spokesman Cheon Ho-seon on Tuesday.

    "The South Korean government welcomes the agreement on the hostage release," the spokesman said at a news conference.

    "The agreement was reached on conditions that South Korea withdraw its troops stationed in Afghanistan by the year's end and impose a ban on its Christian nationals' missionary activities in the Southwest Asian country," Cheon said.

    The actual timing for the hostage release cannot be confirmed for now, he said.

    The spokesman expressed deep gratitude to the Afghan government, multi-national troops stationed in Afghanistan and international organizations for their support in the hostage release.

    "The government will take all necessary measures for the safe return of all the hostages," he said.

    South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, who was briefed on the hostage release agreement, instructed related officials to do their best until all hostages are released and return home safely, Cheon said.

    "The good news has arrived and the whole nation is now relieved. Please make thorough efforts until the last moment. Everyone did good work," Roh was quoted as saying.

    The 19 hostages will be swiftly sent to Kabul to receive medical checkups before heading home, Cheon said.

    The local YTN news channel said that South Korea and Taliban reached a five-point agreement during their negotiation on the day. Under the agreement, the South Korean government promised to withdraw all its troops within this year and asks South Korean NGOs and missionaries to leave Afghanistan and Pakistan soon. The Taliban demands suspension of all military actions against Taliban before the release of South Korean hostages and promised not to demand release of Taliban prisoners detained in Afghanistan, the YTN said.

    Following the announcement, South Korea's major political parties hailed the agreement of release of hostages and highly commended the efforts made by the government.

    The families of the kidnapped issued a statement soon after the announcement, expressing their gratitude to the government efforts and looks forward to an early and safe return of all the hostages.

    A group of Taliban militants kidnapped 23 South Koreans in Afghanistan on July 19. The kidnappers have killed two male South Koreans and released two female hostages so far. 

Taliban likely to free S Korean hostages in coming days

    GHAZNI, Afghanistan Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Taliban would free 19 South Korean hostages without the release of Taliban prisoners, and they probably would be released in the coming days, Mullah Bashir, a Taliban delegate said Tuesday.

    Bashir, who is engaged in direct talks with South Korean officials, told Xinhua that the Taliban realizes the South Korean government can not press Afghan authorities to free Taliban prisoners, so the group changes its demands.