Korean hostages alive as Afghans warn of operation

By Yousuf Azimy

GHAZNI, Afghanistan (Reuters) - The remaining South Korean hostages held in Afghanistan are still alive, the Taliban said on Wednesday, while the army warned villagers to evacuate areas near where the insurgents are thought to be holding them.

Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf said all 21 hostages were alive despite the expiry of a deadline after which he had warned the kidnappers would start killing the captives unless the Afghan government freed jailed insurgents.

"Yes, they are alive," Yousuf told Reuters by telephone from an unknown location. "But the danger (of killing) them remains. It is possible that they will be killed," he said, without giving a time frame.

The Afghan government has refused to give in to demands to free Taliban prisoners, saying that would only encourage further abductions.

Twenty-three South Korean church volunteers were snatched from a bus on the main road south from the capital Kabul as it travelled through Ghazni province last month.

Two male Koreans have since been killed by the kidnappers after their demands were ignored.

The Defence Ministry said army helicopters had dropped leaflets in several districts of Ghazni province warning residents to move to secure areas to avoid civilian casualties during an operation to be launched in the "coming weeks".

But the ministry said it was a routine operation not linked with the kidnapping. Both Afghan and foreign troops were stationed in the area, a local official said.