S Korean embassy denies ransom being paid to Taliban

Moscow, Aug 31 (UNI) The South Korean embassay in Moscow today denied reports that Seoul paid ransom to Taliban insurgents, for securing the release of Korean Christian volunteers in central Afghanistan.

''No ransom was paid," a spokesman for the South Korean embassay told RIA Novosti news agency, dismissing reports that millions of dollars in cash were handed over to the Taliban militants.

After a deal reached direct talks on Tuesday, the remaining 19 hostages were released over the next two days.

Of the 23 Koreans held since July 19, two men were executed in late July, and two women were released earlier this month.

Seoul reiterated its pledge to withdraw its contingent of around 200 medics and engineers from Afghanistan, and agreed to ban all Korean Christian mission work in Afghanistan.

The Talibans backed down from their earlier demand for the release of its fighters.

The hostages released Wednesday and Thursday were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, and were expected to fly back to South Korea via Dubai on Sunday.

UNI