The Taliban has extended the deadline for negotiations surrounding 22 South Korean hostages until 12 PM (07:30 GMT) on Friday, a purported Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said Thursday.

Meanwhile, an Afghan tribal elder involved in the negotiations told Xinhua that the Taliban might release a few hostages before the deadline.

"I am hopeful that at least some South Korean hostages would be freed before Friday noon after some deals are made," Wahidullah Mujadadi said.

Seoul dispatched its chief presidential national security advisor, Baek Jong-chun, the country on Thursday to bolster cooperation with the Afghan government.

He is expected in Afghanistan today, meaning the Taliban may hold off to see any offers he tables.

The hostages, including 18 women, were abducted from a bus in Ghazni province last week. Ghazni's Governor Mirajuddin Pathan urged the Taliban to at least free the women.

"Keeping women as captives has not happened in Afghanistan's history. They should release the women," the governor said.

He said the Afghan government had received a list of prisoners the Taliban were demanded be freed as part of an exchange, but could not comment on any potential release.

General Ali Shah Ahmadzai, provincial police chief of Ghazni province where the 22 remaining hostages were being held, said the government was anxious to resume negotiations but he presumed the hostages were safe.

The fate of the 22 Christian volunteers seemed precarious, after one of them was killed and had his body abandoned near where the group was seized last week.

He was identified as the group's leader, Bae Hyung-kyu, a pastor who turned 42 on the day he was killed.

South Korea reacted very strongly to Bae's killing, calling it an unforgivable atrocity.

The Taliban have accused both the government and South Korean negotiators of failing to act in good faith after Kabul dismissed demands to free eight named rebels from prison.
?
Initially the Taliban had also demanded South Korea withdraw its 200 troops serving in Afghanistan – a move planned for the end of year anyway.

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily via agencies July 27, 2007)