The Taliban have agreed to free 19 South Korean hostages kidnapped in Afghanistan following a negotiation with South Korean officials, said South Korean Presidential Office Spokesman Cheon Ho-seon on Tuesday.

"The South Korean government welcomes the agreement on the hostage release," the spokesman said at a news conference.

"The agreement was reached on conditions that South Korea withdraw its troops stationed in Afghanistan by the year's end and impose a ban on its Christian nationals' missionary activities in the Southwest Asian country," Cheon said.

The actual timing for the hostage release cannot be confirmed for now, he said.

The local YTN news channel said that South Korea and Taliban reached a five-point agreement during their negotiation on the day. Under the agreement, the South Korean government promised to withdraw all its troops within this year and asks South Korean NGOs and missionaries to leave Afghanistan and Pakistan soon. The Taliban demands suspension of all military actions against Taliban before the release of South Korean hostages and promised not to demand release of Taliban prisoners detained in Afghanistan, the YTN said.

A group of Taliban militants kidnapped 23 South Koreans in Afghanistan on July 19. The kidnappers have killed two male South Koreans and released two female hostages so far.

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2007)