An Afghan militant group that has threatened to kill three foreign UN hostages said today it was disappointed the government had taken so long to free 26 Taliban prisoners to secure their release.
Mullah Sabir Momin, a commander of the Jaish-e Muslimeen (Army of Muslims), a Taliban splinter faction, said it was considering withdrawing better conditions it had provided to the hostages and would not allow them to telephone their families.
"We are greatly disappointed over the pace at which things are moving," he told reporters. "According to our information, the government has not taken any step for the release of our men.
"We will wait until the second or third day of Eid and then our Shura (council) will decide the future course of action," he said, referring to the three-day Muslim festival that starts at the weekend.
Ms Annetta Flanigan from Northern Ireland, Ms Shqipe Hebibi from Kosovo and Filipino diplomat Mr Angelito Nayan were abducted in Kabul on October 28th after helping to organise presidential elections won by US-backed incumbent Mr Hamid Karzai.