QALA-E-KAZI, Afghanistan, August 21, SPA -- Taliban releasedeight South Korean hostages on Wednesday, the first of 19captives scheduled to be freed under a deal struck betweenthe insurgents and the South Korean government. The hostages were released into the care of officials ofthe International Committee of the Red Cross at twoseparate locations in central Afghanistan close to the cityof Ghazni, an Associated Press reporter said. The first group of three women were released in thevillage of Qala-e-Kazi. Several hours later, four women andone man were released in a desert close to Shah Baz, saidthe reporter, who witnessed both hand-overs. None of the eight said anything to reporters.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/478349