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 KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Political and religious leaders invoked Afghan and Islamic traditions of chivalry and hospitality Sunday in attempts to shame the Taliban into releasing 18 female South Korean captives.
A purported Taliban spokesman shrugged off the demands and instead set a new deadline for the hostages' lives, saying the hardline militants could kill one or all of the 22 captives if the government does not release 23 militant prisoners by 3:30 a.m. EDT Monday. Several earlier deadlines passed without killings.
A leader of the group was shot and killed on Wednesday but it was unclear why.
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