GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Taliban would set free the remaining seven South Korean hostages in Afghanistan later Thursday, said Haji Zahir, a local tribal elder engaged in talks.

    "The Taliban would release the remaining seven hostages after 4 p.m. (1130 GMT)," Zahir told Xinhua, adding that they would be released in two groups, one of which includes four persons and the other includes three.

    A total of 12 South Korean hostages were released on Wednesday after a six-week ordeal. They arrived in Ghazni city, the capital of the central Ghazni province and met South Korean officials there.

    A total of 23 South Koreans were kidnapped by Taliban militants on a road in Ghazni province on July 19.

    Taliban rebels shot dead two male hostages on July 25 and July 30 separately to press Afghan and South Korean authorities to meet their main demand, which was the release of some Taliban prisoners.

    Two female hostages were released on Aug. 13 as the Taliban claimed that it wanted to show "a good gesture" toward South Korean authorities.

    The Afghan government refused to release Taliban prisoners as the Taliban has demanded to exchange for the remaining hostages.

    12 S Korean hostages freed after long ordeal

     GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- A total of 12 South Korean hostages were released by Taliban militants in Afghanistan on Wednesday after a six-week ordeal, with seven others expected to get freedom in the upcoming days.

    A Xinhua reporter saw a local tribal elder handed the third batch of three female and one male hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Qarabagh district of the central Ghazni province.

     Taliban to release remaining 7 S Korean hostages Thursday

GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Taliban would free the remaining seven South Korean hostages in Afghanistan on Thursday, a local tribal elder engaged in talks told Xinhua Wednesday.

    He did not give any more information.

    Afghan and South Koreans were not immediately available for comments.