Taliban: Koreans could be released 'today or tomorrow'

A Taliban leader taking part in hostage negotiations for the lives of 21 South Koreans said on Saturday that talks are on a ''positive track.

He said he hopes the captives could be released ''today or tomorrow.''

Mullah Qari Bashir said that face-to-face negotiations with four Korean officials that began on Friday were going well.

He further said that the Taliban were sticking with their original demand that 21 Taliban prisoners be released from prisons in Afghanistan.

''I'm very optimistic. The negotiations are continuing on a positive track,'' Bashir said.

Asked when the hostages might be released, he said: ''Hopefully today or tomorrow.''

On July 19, Taliban fighters kidnapped 23 South Koreans from a bus traveling to the southern Afghan city of Kandahar from the capital, Kabul. Two male hostages have been executed.