Taliban talks 'not going well'

Twenty-three South Koreans held by the Taliban in Afghanistan are in good health, a Taliban spokesman has said, but warned negotiations with Afghan and Korean officials were "not going well". He said: "They are in good health and fine, but ... any use of force will claim the lives of the hostages and the Taliban then would not be responsible."

The Taliban on Sunday had extended a deadline for South Korea to agree to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan and the Afghan government to release Taliban prisoners by 24 hours to 14:30 GMT on Monday. After that they said they would start killing the Koreans.

Taliban fighters also discarded the bullet-riddled body of one of two Germans kidnapped a day before the South Koreans, heightening fears for their safety. German officials said it was unclear whether he died before he was shot and wanted the remains returned to Germany as soon as possible for a closer examination.

Mediation

The group of 23 Koreans, seized last Thursday, belong to the Saemmul Church in Bundang, a city outside South Korea's capital, Seoul. Most of them are in their 20s and 30s, and include nurses and English teachers

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