Hope Rises for Release of Afghanistan Hostages
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Taliban-linked kidnappers of three UN election workers, including a British woman, claimed today that a deal could be close for their release.
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Three UN workers remained hostages of a Taliban faction despite hopes they would be freed by the Muslim festival of Eid which began on Saturday, the third anniversary of the Taliban&#39;s flight from the Afghan capital.
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One week after the abduction of three foreign election workers in Afghanistan, Afghan and United Nations officials are hoping for a breakthrough in negotiations with the kidnappers.
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After releasing three women, the Taliban said that some of the remaining 16 hostages may be freed this afternoon.
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KABUL, Nov 7 - Kidnappers who have threatened to kill three UN workers in Afghanistan have agreed to give the government until Tuesday to find and release 26 Taliban prisoners, a spokesman for the kidnappers said on Sunday.
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24 November 2004 - Three United Nations election workers freed yesterday nearly a month after being abducted in Afghanistan today thanked the Afghan people for the support shown during their ordeal and said they were looking forward to getting back to
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DUBAI/PARIS  - Hopes that Islamic militants will  soon free two French hostages in Iraq rose on Friday, despite  confusion over which group is now holding them.
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The Afghan government announced Tuesday that contact had been made with the three United Nations election officials kidnapped nearly two weeks ago and expressed hope that they would be released soon.
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Three international workers held hostage in Afghanistan&#39;s capital, Kabul, for almost a month were freed today, the United Nations said.
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Three UN workers, including a Briton, remain hostages of a Taliban faction despite hopes they would be freed by the Muslim festival of Eid, the third anniversary of the Taliban&#39;s ousting from the Afghan capital.
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KABUL, Afghanistan A UN official says two workers held hostage in Afghanistan are looking forward to some peace and quiet. The women, one from Northern Ireland and the other from Kosovo, took off from Kabul today aboard a UN plane.
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Three United Nations hostages were freed in Afghanistan unharmed and healthy after almost four weeks in captivity amid conflicting claims over whether the government promised to free Taliban prisoners in exchange for their release.
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Afghan militants holding three foreigners hostage have said they will kill them unless Taleban and al-Qaeda prisoners are released by Wednesday.
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The kidnappers of three U.N. workers in  Afghanistan said the government agreed terms for their release  on Wednesday, but there was no confirmation and a top U.S.  official said a deal would encourage hostage taking.
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Afghan militants have hinted they might release a Filipino hostage, one of three UN workers kidnapped last week, as his country has no troops in Afghanistan.
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PESHAWAR: The Jaishul Muslimeen on Wednesday said it had agreed to an Afghan government request to give it more time to locate the 26 prisoners whose release has been demanded in return for the freedom of the three UN hostages.
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KABUL, Afghanistan -- Three UN workers held hostage for nearly a month were preparing to fly home after their release yesterday from an ordeal that suggested Taliban-linked militants are adopting the tactics of Iraqi insurgents.