Taliban spokesman says two German hostages captured in central Afghan Wardak three days ago were executed

DEBKAfile Intelligence

July 21, 2007

Yousuf Ahmadi said they were shot dead when Taliban’s demands were not met by Saturday midday. The Afghan insurgents demanded the withdrawal of German troops from the country and their prisoners released by the Afghani authorities by that deadline. South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Saturday called for the release of 23 countrymen held hostage by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, saying they were medical volunteers. Ahmadi gave Seoul until noon Saturday to withdraw its 200 troops from Afghanistan or the South Korean hostages would also be killed.