Militants who have threatened to kill three UN workers seized in Afghanistan almost three weeks ago appeared to narrow demands for their release today and said they would meet later in the day to decide their fate.
Mullah Sabir Momin, a commander of the Jaish-e Muslimeen (Army of Muslims), said the Taliban splinter faction had dropped demands for the withdrawal of US-led forces from Afghanistan and the release of Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
But Momin, one of several militants claiming to speak for the group, said it was still insisting on the release of 15 Taliban members held in southern Afghanistan. "Without releasing them, the issue will not be resolved," he said.
"We have withdrawn from two of our important demands," he said. "This we have done in good faith, because we want the release of our Taliban prisoners and also a safe and peaceful solution to the hostage issue."
Ms Annetta Flanigan from Northern Ireland, Kosovan Ms Shqipe Hebibi and Filipino diplomat Mr Angelito Nayan were abducted on October 28 after helping run presidential elections won by US-backed incumbent Mr Hamid Karzai.
Jaish-e Muslimeen has previously threatened to kill the hostages unless 26 Taliban prisoners, including some who could be in US custody in Cuba or Afghanistan, were freed.
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage ruled out any US releases when he said last week that compromise would lead to more kidnappings.