AFP - A South Korean delegation negotiating with the Taliban for the release of 21 hostages is hoping for more talks Monday and has built good contact with the rebels, Seoul's embassy in Afghanistan said.

The delegation has been holding direct closed-door talks with two Taliban negotiators since Friday about the Christian aid workers seized more than three weeks ago.

The Taliban have shot dead two of their captives and threatened to kill more. They promised at the weekend to release two of the hostages who are sick but the women still have not been handed over to their government.

The Ghazni province governor, Mirajuddin Pattan, said Sunday the Taliban had informed authorities the women would be freed Monday.

The embassy spokesman would not comment on any possible release.

"Until they come, we cannot say anything," he told AFP on condition of anonymity. "We are still waiting.

"The one thing clear is that our negotiating team has maintained a good channel with the Taliban," he added.

The spokesman said there should be more talks Monday. Taliban spokesmen and Afghan authorities could not immediately be reached for confirmation.

The negotiations have been held at the offices of the Afghan Red Crescent Society in the small town of Ghazni, near where the South Koreans were abducted in southern Ghazni province.

Authorities have barred journalists from the venue since Sunday.

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