Taliban kill South Korean hostage in Afghanistan

By Ahmad Masood

GHAZNI, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Taliban insurgents shot dead a South Korean hostage in Afghanistan on Wednesday and threatened to kill 22 others, but a deadline passed without word from the kidnappers or the Afghan government.

A Taliban spokesman had said the government had been given until 2030 GMT to release rebels from prison or the remaining 22 Korean Christian volunteers would be killed.

"Yes, they have killed one of the hostages and efforts are under way to have the others released," said the Qarabagh district chief in Ghazni province, Khowja Seddiqi.

The body of the Korean was later found with bullet wounds.

The Taliban accused the government and South Korean negotiators of failing to act in good faith after Kabul rejected a demand for eight named rebels to be freed from prison.

"Since Kabul's administration did not listen to our demand and did not free our prisoners, the Taliban shot dead a male Korean hostage," Qari Mohammad Yousuf told Reuters by telephone from an unknown location.

"If the administration of Kabul is not ready to release our hostages, then by 1 a.m. (local time) the rest of the hostages will be killed," he said. "That time is the last deadline."

DESERT AREA