Afghanistan: The Taliban splinter group that has threatened to kill three UN hostages again extended a deadline on its demands after the government said it would respond to them today, a spokesman for the group said.
The kidnappers have demanded the release of 26 Taliban prisoners, some of whom may be in US custody, as part of a deal to free UN workers Ms Annetta Flanigan from Northern Ireland, Ms Shqipe Hebibi from Kosovo and Filipino diplomat Mr Angelito Nayan.
"We have had contact with representatives of the government and the United Nations who said they would respond to the demands tomorrow," Mr Sayed Khalid Agha of the Jaish-e Muslimeen (Army of Muslims) said yesterday.
"So we have extended the deadline until 11 a.m. (6.30 a.m. GMT) tomorrow."
The three UN workers were abducted in Kabul late last monthafter helping to run presidential polls won by US-backed incumbent Hamid Karzai.
Another militant spokesman, Mullah Sabir Momin, had said Ms Hebibi would be killed first and the "beheading" shown on video. "If a Muslim helps infidels or America, that Muslim will be punished first," he said.
"The decision on the other two will be taken after seeing the reaction of the Afghan government and the UN," he added.
The Afghan government expressed hope for the hostages' release but indicated it was unwilling to meet the kidnappers' demands.
"We know about their ultimatum and our response is that we hope they free the hostages on the basis of the decree of the Ulema (council of clerics) and appeals from Afghans and the international community," a defence ministry spokesman said.
In an interview with CNN, President Hamid Karzai said the government was working to secure the release of the workers.
"We are working on it, on a minute-to-minute basis, day and night," he said, but would not give further details.
The Afghan government and the UN have declined to comment on the talks. However, officials and the US military have said they were hopeful the hostages would be freed.
Mr Momin said the Shura had extended deadlines in response to numerous appeals, including from leaders of Afghanistan's Mujahideen, or holy warriors. But he dismissed the appeal from the Ulema, saying they were "working for the infidels".
Hopes were raised on Monday when Ms Hebibi was allowed to telephone a friend in Kosovo and Mr Nayan spoke to the foreign ministry in Manila.
-(Reuters)