All Korean hostages still in Taliban hands

GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Aug 12 (Reuters) Two seriously ill South Korean hostages are still in Taliban hands, a spokesman for the rebel group said today, but would be freed soon.

The same spokesman had said late yesterday the two women had already been freed and would soon arrive in the city of Ghazni, close to where they and 21 other Korean church volunteers were abducted by the insurgents more than three weeks ago.

''The Taliban leadership council has decided to release the two female hostages within several hours,'' Qari Mohammad Yousuf told Reuters by telephone from an unknown location today.

''They are sick, and we are hopeful that releasing them will positively reflect on releasing our prisoners.'' The Taliban have already killed two male hostages and threatened to kill the remaining 21, 18 of them women, unless a similar number of Taliban prisoners are freed in exchange.

The Afghan government has refused to give in to the demand, saying that would just encourage more kidnapping.

Yousuf has made conflicting statements in the past, blaming problems communicating with fighters in the field. This time he blamed the media for the confusion.

''It is confusing in the media reports. I said that our council decided to release them, I did not say they are released,'' he said.

Local and national Afghan government officials say they do not know anything about any release and do not have the two Koreans in their custody.

''I don't know anything about releasing the hostages. I cannot tell you a lie,'' said Shereen Mangal, a spokesman for the governor of Ghazni.

The South Korean government declined to comment.

''We have no comment on the reports. But we are maintaining a direct contact with (the) Taliban,'' a South Korean government official, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters.

The government will confirm reports and make comments when it secures the hostages, he said.

South Korean diplomats began a third day of face-to-face talks with Taliban negotiators today to try to free the prisoners. But unlike in previous days, Afghan officials were not present during the meeting.

''The negotiations are still continuing, it is not finalised yet,'' said Mangal. ''We are not in the discussion today, we are only there to provide security for negotiators.'' REUTERS SW KP1222