|PIC1|The International Director of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), the Rev Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe, has welcomed the release of 19 South Korean hostages this week.

The group of Christian medical volunteers, originally numbering 23, endured six weeks of captivity at the hands of the Taliban in Afghanistan, after being captured on a main road last month. They were released in successive rounds over Wednesday and Thursday.

Following the kidnapping - the largest abduction of foreigners in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 - two male hostages were killed by their captors, 40-year-old group leader Pastor Bae Hyung-kyu, and Shim Sung-min, 29. Two female hostages were freed earlier in the month as the Taliban's "gesture of goodwill".

"We at the World Evangelical Alliance rejoice in the fact that our brothers and sisters held hostage for over six weeks have now all been released," said Dr Tunnicliffe. "At the same time we also grieve the loss of the two male Korean captives and will be praying for God to comfort their families."

Dr Tunnicliffe is scheduled to visit South Korea from 13 to 17 September, when he will meet with Korean Christian leaders and possibly the released hostages.

"We also want to assure the Korean churches that we will continue to pray for them as they process the emotions and changes following the hostage crisis," he said.

"We recognise there is much current debate on the future of Korean missionary work in dangerous or complex situation.

"I'm looking forward to meeting Korean Christian leaders to discuss the significant implications of the South Korean Government's ban on Christian workers going to Afghanistan."