August 29, 2007 -- Reports say Taliban militants have started to release some of the 19 remaining South Korean hostages who were abducted on July 19.

The reports, quoting the Taliban, the Red Cross, witnesses, and a tribal elder, say three female hostages were released today.

The release of the hostages was agreed on August 28 in another round of talks in Afghanistan between South Korean diplomats and Taliban representatives.

In return for the release, the South Korean government promised to pull out its 200 troops in medical and engineering units from Afghanistan by the end of the year -- something it was already planning to do -- and to end missionary activities in Afghanistan.

In South Korea, missionary groups said today that they will pull out of Afghanistan to comply with the deal.

A total of 23 South Korean volunteers were seized in Ghazni Province.

The militants killed two male hostages early on in the crisis, and subsequently released two sick women who returned to Seoul.

(compiled from agency reports)