Deal Reached on Hostages

Talks between the Taliban and the South Korean government have resulted in the outline of a deal to release the remaining 19 hostages held in Afghanistan for over a month. The agreement involves withdrawal of Korea's 200 noncombat troops and an end to missionary activity, CNN reports, but not payment of ransom. Their release may not be imminent.

The deal on the table does not involve the freeing of political prisoners, which the kidnappers had insisted on. The Taliban has already executed two of the aid workers and released two others from the group of 23 aid workers abducted July 19.