Chinese language - Kidnapped S. Koreans said to be healthy

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WORLD / Asia-Pacific

Kidnapped S. Koreans said to be healthy

(AP)
Updated: 2007-08-24 19:26

KABUL, Afghanistan - Nineteen South Koreans held hostage for six weeks in
Afghanistan are kept on the move by their Taliban captors, but are said
to be in good health, a doctor in touch with a senior commander in the
insurgent group told reporters Friday.

Dr. Muhammad Hashim Wahaj, left, addresses journalists about his
intention to go and treat Rudolf Blechschmidt, a German engineer held
hostage by the Taliban in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday Aug. 24, 2007. Wahaj
had earlier taken a team of doctors to Ghazni to treat the South Korean
hostages but was denied direct access to them. At right is fellow Doctor
Habibullah Qadiry. [AP]

Meanwhile, US-led coalition troops shot dead a suspected militant and
detained 11 other people during a raid in eastern Afghanistan, the
coalition said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Dr. Mohammad Hashim Wahaaj delivered medicine to the
Taliban to give to the South Koreans. He said he was not allowed to
examine the hostages, but discussed any medical concerns over the phone
with their captors.

Wahaaj told a media conference he remained in regular telephone contact
with Mullah Mansor, the Taliban commander in the area where the South
Korean aid workers were kidnapped on July 19.

He said Mansor had told him the South Koreans "were fine and have no
medical problems," but were split into several groups and moved around
every "six to eight hours" to stay one step ahead of Afghan security
forces.

The Taliban originally seized 23 South Koreans, but have since killed two
of the hostages and released two others. They are demanding the
withdrawal of South Korean troops from the country and the release of
prisoners in exchange for freeing the hostages.

There are around 200 South Korean troops in Afghanistan, most of them
medics and engineers.

Wahaaj, who runs a health clinic in the Afghan capital Kabul, also
appealed to the Taliban to allow him to treat or deliver medicine to a
German engineer and four Afghans kidnapped more than a month ago.

The German appeared in a video broadcast on Afghan television on Thursday
apparently in pain, lying on the ground, coughing and holding his chest.

"We want this person to be treated," Wahaaj said. "If he is healthy, you
(the Taliban) can still talk. If he dies, you will lose everything."

Wahaaj said he was working on his own initiative, prompted by
humanitarian concerns. The Afghan government has said it has no
objections to his efforts.

Insurgents in Afghanistan are increasingly using kidnappings of
government officials or foreign aid workers as part of their campaign to
overthrow the Western-backed government that took power after the defeat
of the Taliban in 2001. Violence in Afghanistan is running at its highest
level since the Taliban ouster.

The militant shot Friday was killed while "attempting to engage coalition
and Afghan forces" during a raid in Nangarhar province, the coalition
statement said. Eleven other men detained during the operation will be
questioned "as to their involvement in militant activities," it said.

Troops recovered weapons and ammunition during the raid, the statement
said.

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