'More time' for Afghan hostages

The three were helping to organise the presidential poll on 9 October

Militants in Afghanistan who claim to have taken three UN workers hostage last week appear to have allowed more time for talks on their release.

But there is still confusion, with different deadlines being set.

They have said they will kill the hostages if their demands for the release of prisoners from Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay are not met.

Annetta Flanigan from the UK, Filipino Angelito Nayan and Kosovan Shqipe Habibi were seized in Kabul last week.

Spokesmen for the group, known as the Army of Muslims, said UN and Afghan officials had contacted them and asked for more time for talks, which were likely to start on Thursday.

"The government said they would think about releasing those Taleban held in Afghan prisons and discuss the prisoners held by the Americans," spokesman Syed Khaled said.

The Afghan government has not confirmed whether it is in contact with the kidnappers.

'Co-operation needed'

A government spokesman said a hotline had been set up for any information about the kidnappers or their hostages.

"We want co-operation from the people," Interior Ministry spokesman Lutfullah Mashal told AFP.

Earlier a man claiming to be a spokesman for the militants said they had split up the hostages to make any rescue attempts more difficult, but there is no independent confirmation of this.

The authorities in Kabul say they are still keeping an open mind as to who is behind the kidnapping.

Afghan authorities arrested several people on Friday and Saturday they believe are linked to it.