South Korean missionaries slam hostage deal with Taliban

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http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=126&art_id=nw20070831094028111C703871

Seoul - South Korean missionaries on Friday expressed "deep concerns" about the agreement reached between Seoul and Taliban insurgents to win the release of 19 Korean hostages in Afghanistan.

"Korean churches cannot help expressing deep concerns over the agreement reached between the government and the Taliban to halt missionary activities in Afghanistan," the Korea World Missions Association (KWMA) said in a statement.

The Taliban this week freed 19 Christian aid workers after Seoul said it would clamp down on missionary activities in the Islamic nation.

The Seoul government also pledged to go ahead with a previously scheduled troop withdrawal.