The last seven South Korean hostages were released by Taliban militants in Afghanistan on Thursday, bringing an end to a six-week crisis during which two of them were executed.

Four hostages including two men were first transferred from a local tribal elder to officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gelan district of Ghazni province.

An ICRC convoy carrying the hostages then drove to another district in Ghazni province, and waited for the last three hostages.

A local tribal elder Haji Zahir, who has been working as a mediator, then traveled to a remote village and secured the last man and two women.

Meanwhile, two Taliban members covering their faces walked back with Zahir and read a statement issued by the Taliban leadership.

The statement admitted the kidnapping would hurt the South Korean people. However, the abduction was in protest of the 200 troops sent by South Korea to help the US in what the Taliban said was an invasion of Afghanistan which left many innocent women, children and old men dead.

On Wednesday, the Taliban freed 12 hostages in three groups, who were met in Ghazni City by South Korean officials.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, a South Korean national, welcomed the agreement between the Taliban and South Korean authorities and called for the quick release of all hostages.

He said he used all possible measures, including holding talks with leaders in Afghanistan and other countries, to help secure the hostages' release.

The Taliban and the South Korean government made a deal on Tuesday, which will see 19 South Korean hostages released with no Taliban prisoners being freed. In return, the South Korean government promised to withdraw all its 200 troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year, and to forbid all Christian activities in this country.

A total of 23 South Koreans were kidnapped by Taliban militants on a road in Ghazni Province on July 19.

Taliban rebels shot dead two male hostages on July 25 and July 30 after authorities tarried in meeting their demands.

Two female hostages were released on Aug. 13 in a show of good will by the Taliban towards the South Korean authorities.

The Afghan government refused to release Taliban prisoners as the Taliban has demanded to exchange for the remaining hostages.

Kidnappings have been frequently carried out by Taliban militants for the last two years, with some being killed.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2007)