The South Korean government on Friday dismissed speculation that it had paid ransom to Taliban rebels to secure the release of 19 hostages, DPA reported. Aside from conditions for the release that were made public, there had been no "secret agreement" with the Taliban, a South Korean government spokesman told journalists in Seoul. He had been asked whether the radical Islamist group had received a ransom in exchange for the kidnapped aid workers. The hostages were released in batches on Wednesday and Thursday. They were among a group of 23 Christian aid workers abducted on July 19 while travelling overland. Two hostages were killed by the Taliban when deadlines for their demands were not met, while two women were freed about two weeks ago. The South Korean government on Thursday said it had agreed to withdraw its 200 soldiers from Afghanistan - which had already been decided before the kidnappings - by year's end. It said it had also promised to send no more "Christian missionaries" into the country.
