WRAP Security patrols in Ghazni area amidst SKor hostage crisis, demo

(6 Aug 2007)
1. Various of police patrolling in Ghazni city
2. Close-up of rifle of police officer on patrol
3. SOUNDBITE: (Dari) Abdul Wakil Kamyab, reserve police force commander:
"We are searching and patrolling in the city to make sure that they (kidnappers) will not be able to transport the hostages by these routes."
4. Various of police checking vehicles and people
5. SOUNDBITE: (Dari) Sayed Dawod, local resident:
"They are women and any act of violence against women is not allowed in Islam so we want them to be released soon and we condemn this kidnapping."
6. Pan from gun to police walking through streets
7. Wide shot of vans with loudspeakers in demonstration
9. Mid shot of banner in English: "Whoever is holding the Korean people do not represent Afghanistan. Long Life to Korea."
10. Close up of vans passing camera
11. Various of demonstrators handing out leaflets to children from vans
12. Close up of leaflet condemning the hostage taking
13. Child holding leaflet
14. SOUNDBITE: (Pashto) Vox Pop, Mohammed Zahir, resident:
"These Koreans hostages are mostly doctors and engineers. They came here to help the Afghan people and our country and our request to those who are holding these Korean hostages is to please release them."
15. Close up of van passing camera
STORYLINE:
As 21 remaining South Korean hostages entered their third week of captivity at the hands of the Taliban in Afghanistan, security remained tight in Ghazni province where they were abducted.
"We are searching and patrolling in the city to make sure that they (kidnappers) will not be able to transport the hostages by these routes," said Abdul Wakil Kamyab, Ghazni's reserve police force commander.
A demonstration also drove through the city, urging the release of the hostages, as did some city residents.
"They are women and any act of violence against women is not allowed in Islam so we want them to be released soon and we condemn this kidnapping," one local, Sayed Dawod said.
Also on Monday a South Korean government official said South Korean diplomats in Afghanistan had contacted at least one of the 21 church volunteers being held by the Taliban.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, declined to give further
details about the conversation with at least one of the South Korean captives, citing safety concerns.
Local South Korean media reported that the hostages had been divided into groups and that a number of them were sick, but gave no additional details.
The Taliban has agreed to meet face-to-face with a South Korean delegation, but the two sides have been unable to agree on a venue.
A purported Taliban spokesman who expressed concerns that militants could be detained by the Afghan military has proposed meeting in Taliban territory, or that the United Nations host talks elsewhere.
Militants kidnapped 23 South Koreans from a bus in southern Afghanistan on July 19 and have shot two of them
to death. They are threatening more killings unless the Afghan government releases insurgent prisoners.
The Afghan government has all but ruled out a hostage-prisoner swap after it came under strong criticism
earlier this year for making a deal to secure the release of an Italian citizen.

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