from Earth Times.org

Kabul - Shortly before the expiration of Monday’s deadline set by the Taliban threatening to kill the 22 remaining South Korean hostages the Afghan government has asked the rebels for two more days. “Our delegates are in discussions with them (the Taliban),” Mehrajuddin Patan, governor of the south-eastern province of Ghazni, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

“Our delegates are in talks with them to give us two more days whenever there is a result we will let you know .”

The latest deadline was set for Monday at noon (0930 GMT), though since the group of 23 was abducted on July 19, the Taliban has set several deadlines, but all expired without any breakthrough.

There has been no response from the Taliban regarding the time extension.

On Sunday, Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousif Ahmadi said that the government had been given a list of Taliban prisoners who could be exchanged for the hostages.

Also Monday, the body of the leader of the group was expected in Seoul. The kidnappers shot dead 42-year-old pastor Bae Hyung-kyu on Wednesday.