1German, 4 Afghan hostages still alive: Taliban

Kabul, July 24: A German hostage reported to have been killed by the Taliban is still alive along with four Afghans, a Taliban spokesman said yesterday.

''The German national and four Afghans we had reported to have killed are still alive,'' Qari Mohammad Yousuf, told the sources from an unknown location by telephone.

He said the Taliban leadership wanted the release of 10 Taliban prisoners held by the Afghan government and the withdrawal of German troops from Afghanistan as conditions for the freedom of the hostages.

Reuters>