Afghanistan: The Afghan terrorists who abducted three UN workers whom they have threatened to kill have extended their deadline to tonight to allow, as they put it, the Afghan government and the United Nations to hold talks with them
."We have moved the deadline to Saturday night because the UN and Afghan government requested...negotiations," said Mr Khalid Agha, the spokesman for Jaish-e-Muslimeen (Army of Muslims) group yesterday.
The militants have threatened to kill the hostages unless authorities meet a series of demands, including the release of all Taliban prisoners, the withdrawal of US troops and the suspension of UN operations in the country.
Irish woman Ms Annetta Flanigan, Filipino Mr Angelito Nayan, and Kosovan woman Ms Shqipe Hebibi were kidnapped last week, sparking fears among the 2,000-strong Western community that militants might have started to copy the tactics of insurgents in Iraq.
The group met yesterday to decide whether "to kill them or extend the deadline" after tonight, said Mullah Sabir Momin, a member of the Taliban splinter group's leadership council.
If it was decided to execute the hostages, Ms Hebibi would be the first to be killed, he said, because, "she is important."
He said the group would consider more talks with the UN or the Afghan government, but had first to receive a response to initial demands.
"The condition of all the three hostages is very bad," he reported. "They are very sick and don't take meals. We bought biscuits and bottled water from the market but their situation is deteriorating."
Apart from the militant group, the parties involved are tight-lipped and it is unclear what talks may already have taken place. - (Reuters)