Amnesty Intl: Taliban must free hostages

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Amnesty International has asked the Taliban to comply with international law by releasing all hostages kidnapped in Afghanistan.

"Hostage-taking is a flagrant breach of international humanitarian law," Amnesty International Secretary-General Irene Khan said Friday. "There are no exceptions to this rule and no justifications for breaking it. Hostage-taking and the killing of hostages are war crimes and their perpetrators must be brought to justice."

Taliban spokesman Qari Yusef Ahmadi told Amnesty International the group is "trying to resolve this issue" -- referring to the South Koreans currently being held hostage. Two of the missionaries have already been killed. Ahmadi said the Taliban plan to follow international law as long as it does not conflict with Islamic law.

Last week, senior Taliban commander Mansour Dadullah called abducting foreigners a successful policy and urged his fighters to kidnap any foreigners they find.