Taliban threatens to kill hostages

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Taliban leaders threatened on Monday to kill more of their 22 Korean hostages unless the Afghan government relents to their demands to release rebel prisoners.

The new deadline was set for 0730 GMT, Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf said, according to Reuters.

One hostage has already been killed.

The Afghan government has ruled out a prisoner swap and has urged the Taliban to release the women hostages.

The 23 South Koreans, all of whom belong to a church group in Afghanistan to perform volunteer medical aid, were kidnapped 11 days ago in Ghazni province.

The leader of their group, 42-year-old Bae Hyung-Kyu, 42, was a pastor at the church was shot to deat.

Police in southeastern Ghazni province found his bullet-riddled body in the Qara Bagh district where the group was kidnapped on July 19. Bae's body is expected to arrive in South Korea on Monday, a family member said, according to Reuters.

Since that time, the Taliban have announced a series of deadlines that have passed without incident.

One of the hostages spoke by phone with two media outlets. Identifying herself as Yo Syun-Ju of Seoul, the woman told the BBC, "We want from the Koreans, from the U.N. and human-rights people to exchange us, and that they do this."

"We are all sick and we have a lot of problems," she added.

To CBS, she said, "We are in a very difficult time. Please help us."

The hostages were divided into two groups, one with 17 women, and the other with five men, she said.

"We are all pleading for you to help us get out of here as soon as possible," she added. "Really, we beg you." E-mail to a friend

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