Afghan Defence Ministry denies hostage rescue bid

KABUL, July 22 (Reuters) An Afghan Ministry of Defence spokesman today denied any operation had been launched to rescue 23 South Korean taken hostage by Taliban insurgents south of the capital Kabul.

''The operation has not begun yet, it must have been a computer error,'' said ministry spokesman Zahir Murad referring to a Ministry of Defence statement.

Earlier, the ministry statement said a joint operation with international forces had been launched to rescue the Koreans seized in Ghazni on Thursday.

The governor of Ghazni, and spokesmen for both the US and NATO-led forces in Afghanistan all said they had no knowledge of any such operation.

REUTERS SM VC1620