Taliban and Al-Qaeda (and other Armed Groups) Should Immediately and Unconditionally and Safely Free Hostages.

• Somali pirates seize South Korean cargo ship-Yonhap .Wed 10 Sep 2008, 8:54 GMT
• Somali pirates want $1.4 mln for French tourists. Wed 10 Sep 2008, 9:11 GMT
• Gunmen in Nigeria release Israeli hostage Mon 1 Sep 2008, 7:35 GMT
  • UPDATE 1-Nigerian militants say Israeli hostage located. Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:34pm BST
• Hijackers free passengers, keep crew hostage. Article published on the 2008-08-27 Latest update 2008-08-27 09:46 TU
• Kidnapped Japanese aid worker found dead in Afghanistan. Last Updated: Wednesday, August 27, 2008
  • Afghan Forces Battle Taliban to Free Japanese Hostage, AFP Says By Stuart Biggs Aug. 26 (Bloomberg) Kazuya Ito, 31, was abducted near Jalalabad, eastern Afghanistan at around 6:30 a.m. local time today as he visited a development project, AFP reported earlier.
  • Family pleads for Japanese hostage in Afghanistan Agence France-Presse World, 8/26/2008
  • Japanese hostage is alive, driver released in Afghanistan (3rd Lead) South Asia News Aug 26, 2008, 9:44 GMT
• Somalis name kidnapped Western journalists Sun 24 Aug 2008, 12:03 GMT By Abdi Sheikh and Ibrahim Mohamed. The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) named them as Amanda Lindhout, a Canadian reporter based in Baghdad but freelancing for French television and Canada's Global National News, and Nigel Brennan, a freelance Australian photojournalist.
  • Canadian, Australian journalists held hostage in Mogadishu: union. Linda Nguyen , Canwest News Service Published: Sunday, August 24, 2008
• 26 Filipino Sailors Held Hostage By Somali Pirates. Written by ANC News Friday, 22 August 2008 14:37 Philippines
• German Hostage Freed in Afghanistan 07.08.2008 At least six Germans have been kidnapped in Afghanistan since the beginning of 2007. German engineer Rudolf Blechschmidt was released on Oct. 10 after nearly three months in the hands of his abductors.
• Couple reunited in North Korea after 47 years Published: August 6, 2008
  • Nordkorea. Deutsche trifft Ehemann nach 47 Jahren Happy End nach fast einem halben Jahrhundert: Renate Hong aus Jena hat in Nordkorea nach 47 Jahren Trennung ihren Ehemann wiedergesehen. Dank des Roten Kreuzes. 05.08.08
  • After 46 years, German seeks ending to her love story in Seoul , "He was my first love," Renate Hong says of the North Korean husband she last saw 46 years ago, in what was then East Germany. "And he should be the last love in my life." By Choe Sang-Hun Published: August 22, 2007
• Two French hostages freed in Afghanistan 3 Aug, 2008, 0013 hrs IST, AGENCIES
• Bullet-riddled bodies found on Philippines hostage island: police Posted Sat Aug 2, 2008 4:21pm AEST
• Kidnapped Koreans freed in Mexico 23 July 2008
  • 5 S Koreans kidnapped in Mexican border city. The Associated Press Published: July 22, 2008
• Afghan commander says kidnapped two French nationals Tuesday, July 22, 2008; 3:00 AM
• Kurdish rebel group releases three German tourists following week-long hostage 21. Juli 2008, 10:22 Uhr
  • Germany Rejects Demands of Kurdish Militants in Hostage Crisis. Crime | 11.07.2008
• Abducted Turkish engineers freed 7/21/2008 12:28 PM ET
• Taliban take 14 Pak govt officials hostage 10 Jul 2008,
• Chinese engineer kidnapped in Afghanistan: governor Jul 1, 2008
• Pirates take four European tourists hostage Tue June 24, 2008
• Frenchman released in Afghanistan 20 June 2008
• Nigeria militants release U.S. hostage By John Poirier 06/19/08
• N. Korea's Abduction of U.S. Permanent Resident Fades From Official View By Glenn Kessler Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, June 19, 2008
• Two Indians still hostage as Sudan security weakens New Delhi, June 07, 2008
• Indian hostage 'safe, well' 04/06/2008 13:52 - (SA)
• Report: Japanese tourist kidnapped in Iran back in Japan. The Associated Press Published: June 17, 2008
  • Japanese hostage freed from Iran June 15, 2008 02:38pm
  • Iran kidnappers want swap for Japanese hostage Published: May 25, 2008, 12:24 Nakamura is reportedly being held outside Iran. The foreign ministry has said Iran is trying to secure his release.
  • Japanese hostage taken out of Iran Sat, 20 Oct 2007 17:28:51
  • Tokyo: Japanese student abducted in Iran confirmed safe October 17, 2007 Iran's Foreign Ministry has denied that a deal would take place with the kidnappers but has said the government was hopeful Nakamura would be released soon.
• Enlèvement d’une ressortissante canadienne en Haïti. A la veille de l’arrivée au pays de 8 experts en lutte contre le kidnapping de la police canadienne jeudi 22 mai 2008,
• Libération de l'ambassadeur pakistanais otage de taliban. Reuters samedi 17 mai 2008, mis à jour à 14:25
  • Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan Taken Hostage February 11, 2008
• Somalie: un bateau jordanien pris en otage, selon un diplomate occidental. AP | 17.05.2008 | 17:07
• British hostage in Iraq has committed suicide, captors claim. The kidnappers of five British men taken hostage in Iraq have released a video statement claiming one of their captives has committed suicide. By Ben Ehrman Last Updated: 1:55AM BST 21 Jul 2008
  • Timeline: the hostage crisis Staff and agencies guardian.co.uk, Sunday July 20 2008
  • British hostage in Iraq reportedly commits suicide. The statement, from the Shiite militia that claimed to have kidnapped five Britons a year ago, could not be immediately verified.
    From the Associated Press July 20, 2008
  • Families of British hostages in mercy plea on TV. By David Williams Last updated at 12:21 AM on 30th May 2008
  • Relatives remember kidnapped Britons 29 May 2008
  • Father breaks his silence to plead with Iraqi kidnappers. One year after the abduction of five Britons working in Baghdad, the Foreign Office is criticised for failing to secure their release David Lister, Scotland Correspondent May 17, 2008
  • Families issue appeal to Iraqi kidnappers March 1 2008
  • Families of British hostages tell Iraq kidnappers to show their humanity March 01, 2008
  • UK PM Brown: Hostage video deplorable February 27, 2008
  • Briton held in Iraq for 8 months is put on TV February 27, 2008
  • UK hostage pleads for prisoner swap in Iraq video By CRAIG BROWN 27 February 2008
  • Iraq 'hostage Briton' video aired 26 February 2008
  • Arab Network Airs Video of British Hostage Kidnapped Last Year in Iraq. Tuesday, February 26, 2008
  • Two Scots among five ‘forgotten’ hostages, By Neil Mackay Families under pressure not to speak to press over men held captive Jan , 2008
  • Ex-archbishop makes hostage plea 12 December 2007 Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has appealed for the release of five British hostages held in Iraq.
  • Brown gives troops credit for Iraq gains Peter Macdiarmid / Associated Press December 10, 2007
  • Gordon Brown demands release of five British hostages December 9, 2007
  • Families urge Iraq kidnappers to free hostages. Owen Bowcott Thursday December 6, 2007
  • Kidnappers release death threat video of 'forgotten' British hostage in Iraq. By DAVID WILLIAMS - More by this author » Last updated at 07:08am on 6th December 2007
  • 10 days to save ‘forgotten’ hostages. Dec 5 2007 by Ben Glaze, South Wales Echo
  • Brit Iraq Hostage Video Criticised. Updated:06:01, Wednesday December 05, 2007 The release of a video showing one of five Britons kidnapped in Iraq six months ago has been condemned by the Government.
  • Insurgents threaten to kill Briton unless UK pulls out of Iraq. MIKE THEODOULOU Wed 5 Dec 2007
  • Otage anglais. Les ravisseurs demandent à Londres le retrait d'Irak. Associated Press (AP) 04/12/2007 09h55
  • Indigna a Londres nuevo video de rehén británico en Irak. 07.12.04
  • Difunden video de rehén británico en Irak. Exigen secuestradores que Gran Bretaña retire sus tropas de Irak; la cinta muestra a un a un hombre ojeroso bajo un cartel que dice ''Resistencia Islámica Chiita en Irak'' Martes 04 de diciembre de 2007
• Un otage autrichien d'Al-Qaïda a pu téléphoner à son fils (©AFP / 14 juin 2008 10h50)
  • Un Autrichien otage d'Al-Qaïda depuis février a pu téléphoner à son fils 14 juin 2008
  • Report: Mali hostage mediators were killed. Published: April 18, 2008 at 10:08 AM
  • Al-Qaeda Group Holding Austrian Hostages Issues Fresh Demands By Ed Johnson April 8 (Bloomberg)
  • Austria rejects Al Qaeda’s deadline on hostage issue Web posted at: 4/6/2008 1:16:48 Source ::: AFP
  • Austria continues hostage talks AFP Published: Mar 25, 2008
  • Austria in contact with al Qaeda hostages in Mali. Tue 18 Mar 2008, 17:32 GMT
  • Austria seeks Libyan help to free kidnapped tourists. AFP - Mar 17, 2008
  • Captors extend deadline, set ransom for Austrian hostages www.chinaview.cn 2008-03-17 09:38:48 Militants linked to al-Qaeda have set a 5-million-euro (about 7.8 million U.S. dollars) ransom ...
  • Web site says Austrians held near Mali town as talks begin. Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:06pm GMT
  • Austrian leader calls for immediate release of hostages held by Al-Qaida. The Associated Press Published: March 14, 2008
  • Al Qaeda's N Africa branch gives 3-day ultimatum on Austria hostages. www.chinaview.cn 2008-03-14 16:58:30
  • Qaeda group demands prisoner swap for Austrians: report Mar 13, 2008
  • Qaeda's Sahara kidnap shows Maghreb threat. Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:34am EDT
  • Al-Qaida says it kidnapped two Austrian tourists in Tunisia By OMAR SINAN The Associated Press March 10, 2008
• 2 kidnapped women freed in Yemen / Tribal leader persuades gunmen to release abducted tourists unharmed. Toshiyuki Fukushima / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent May. 9, 2008
  • Two Japanese women kidnapped in Yemen freed after tribal mediation. The Associated Press Published: May 7, 2008
  • Two Japanese Women Kidnapped In Yemen By Rebel Tribesmen. May 7, 2008 10:57 p.m. EST
• Pakistan troops 'taken hostage'  9 May 2008
• Police storm Warsaw hotel room, free three captive Jewish teens. Last update - 18:29 05/05/2008 By Haaretz Service and News Agencies
  • Trois juifs brésiliens brièvement pris en otage dans un hôtel à Varsovie. 05 mai 2008 15h04
  • Israelis taken hostage in Poland May 05, 2008 08:07pm
• Pakistani militants free two workers of US-based NGO. May 3, 2008, 12:37 GMT
• Haïti-Kidnapping. Deux otage libérés, quatre de leurs présumés ravisseurs arrêtés. Paris se réjouit de la libération contre rançon du coopérant français Jean-Michel Maurin. vendredi 2 mai 2008
  • Haïti: un fonctionnaire français pris en otage. Par tian , le 30/04/2008
• Three Panamanian Police Charged With Kidnapping American Businessman. April 29, 2008 10:33 p.m. EST
• Chinese hostages freed in Indonesia. Published: April 29, 2008 at 7:11 AM
  • Chinese miners kidnapped in Indonesia's Aceh, armed men demanding ransom. The Associated Press Published: April 29, 2008
  • Five Chinese held hostage in Indonesia. Apr 28, 2008
• Tchad: Otage américain, le Président du MDJT Choua Dazi s'exprime Lundi 28 Avril 2008 - 21:59
• Somalie: l'équipage d'un bateau espagnol pris en otage a été libéré (ats / 26 avril 2008 21:17)
  • Somalie - Le bateau pris en otage libéré. France Soir, le mercredi 23 avril 2008 à 04:00
  • Diplomatic efforts continue to try to release the Spanish crew of the Playa de Bakio  By h.b. - Apr 22, 2008 - 8:29 AM
  • Spain appeals to NATO, US to help end Somali hostage crisis. Apr 21, 2008
  • Somalie : deux nouvelles attaques de navires, un équipage espagnol pris en otage 21/04/2008 8:17
• Father of German-Iraqi Hostage Appeals to Kidnappers 25.04.2008
• I'm Taliban hostage, says Pak diplomat Shamim Shahid Sunday, April 20, 2008
• Freed CBS Journalist Speaks. Kidnapped Producer Working For 60 Minutes Was Rescued After 2 Months In Captivity April 19, 2008
  • British journalist freed after being held hostage in Basra for two months. 14 April 2008
  • 'Hitches' delay release of kidnapped British journalist in Iraq, AFP - Feb 16, 2008
  • Kidnapped British journalist to be freed Thursday: Shiite militia, AFP - Feb 14, 2008
  • CBS journalist and Iraqi interpreter kidnapped from Basra hotel. Iraq12 February 2008
  • Two CBS Journalists Kidnapped in Iraq February 11, 2008
• Le récit d'un otage du "Ponant" : "On s'est saisis des lances à incendie pour repousser les pirates" LE MONDE | 15.04.08 | 14h47 • Mis à jour le 15.04.08 | 14h47
  • French commandos swoop after pirates free hostages. By Crispian Balmer Reuters Friday, April 11, 2008; 2:57 PM
  • Issue heureuse en Somalie où les 30 membres d'équipage du voilier pris en otage ont été libérés. 11.04.2008 11:46
  • Voilier français otage en Somalie: Paris déploie des commandos. (ats / 07 avril 2008 19:52)
  • France sends elite unit for possible hostage rescue (Roundup). Apr 7, 2008, 14:10 GMT
• Otage autrichien mort en Irak: sa firme nie les demandes de rançon samedi 12 avril 2008, 11h35 | leparisien.fr
• Two aid workers reported missing in Afghanistan Time is GMT + 8 hours Posted: 11-Apr-2008 00:58 hrs
• Philippines militants release hostage after two months Updated Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:49pm AEST
• Hostage freed by Islamic guerillas in Philippines Manila, Mar. 28, 2008 (CWNews.com)
• German hostage in poor health Published: 25 Mar 08 08:50 CET
• From dramatic hostage-taking to muggings, foreigners find rising crime in mainland China. The Associated Press Published: March 17, 2008
• Freed Belgian hostages may leave Guatemala Monday. Sun Mar 16, 2008 2:28pm EDT
  • Belgian hostages in Guatemala jungle for 2nd night 16 Mar 2008 00:04:59 GMT Source: Reuters By Brendan Kolbay
  • Guatemalan farmers group takes 4 Belgian tourists hostage. The Associated Press Published: March 15, 2008
• 'Severed fingers' of hostages sent to US. By Natalie Paris and agencies. Last Updated: 2:35am GMT 16/03/2008
• Severed fingers of Redding man, other hostages surface in Baghdad. By Christina Jewett - cjewett@sacbee.com Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, March 13, 2008
  • Hostages' fingers sent from Iraq  March 13, 2008
  • Authorities receive severed fingers of hostages taken in Iraq. McClatchy Newspapers Mar. 12, 2008 03:33 PM
• Nigeria: German Hostage Regains Freedom Vanguard (Lagos) 6 March 2008
• Colombian hostage-release did not include Norwegian 06 Mar 2008
• Aussies heading home after China hostage ordeal Posted Thu Mar 6, 2008 7:17am AEDT
• Chinese managers held hostage 04/03/2008 12:33 - (SA)
• Kidnapped Journalist Offered in ‘Hostage Swap’ But Release Not Yet Being Considered Rumwold Leigh for The Georgian Times 2008.03.03 14:38
• Nigeria: Militants Kill Hostage Despite Paying N2 Million Ransom Vanguard (Lagos) 1 March 2008
• TV2 journalist held hostage twice in Afghanistan, By The Copenhagen Post Published 06.02.08 00:00
• Area family of hostage in Afghanistan urges captors to release her, By The Associated Press February 3, 2008
  • American Woman Aid Worker Abducted by Gunmen in Afghanistan By Jay Shankar, Jan. 27 (Bloomberg)
  • American worker, driver kidnapped in Afghanistan, January 27, 2008 KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN
• Taliban gunmen take 200 children hostage, By Isambard Wilkinson in Islamabad Last Updated: 2:08am GMT 30/01/2008
• Colombian jungle captives cry tears of freedom January 12, 2008
  • Colombian tried to escape rebels with Betancourt Jan 11, 2008
  • TIMELINE: Hostage-taking in Colombia Jan 11, 2008
  • Colombia rules out more foreign hostage missions Jan 7, 2008
  • Affaiblie, la guérilla colombienne utilise les otages pour se relancer LE MONDE | 01.01.08 | 12h07
  • Освобождение заложников в Колумбии откладывается 01.01.2008 05:32
  • Colombian hostage rescue deal crumbles Published: January 1, 2008
  • Freedom near for hostages December 28, 2007 Hugh Bronstein in Bogota
  • Colombia Senator Says Hostage Release Still Planned, AFP Says By Matthew Walter, Dec. 25 (Bloomberg)
  • Colombia grandma wants hostages free for Christmas Mon Dec 24, 2007 3:14pm EST
  • Colombian hostage sees death as 'a sweet option', But husband is trying to give her hope by dropping leaflets in jungle Dec. 23, 2007, 12:15AM
  • Colombia: 3 Hostages May Be Freed Soon By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Published: December 19, 2007
  • France asks for Mexico's help in Colombian hostage crisis Dec 11, 2007
  • Correa Joins Leaders Urging Colombia Hostage Release (Update1) By Helen Murphy December 10, 2007 15:15 EST
  • Colombia open to hostage deal By Chris Kraul, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer December 8, 2007
• Area Group on Church Mission Trip Taken Hostage Monday January 07, 2008 7:26pm
• Gunmen in Somalia release kidnapped doctor and nurse, AFP, MOGADISHU Friday, Jan 04, 2008,
  • Spanish Ambassador says aid workers hostage in Somalia are both well By m.p. - Dec 30, 2007 - 10:38 PM
• Malian Tuareg rebels free some army hostages-govt. Sat 29 Dec 2007, 20:31 GMT
• Somali police launch hostage rescue mission 26.12.2007 | 22:00 UTC
• Kashmir hostage crisis ends 12/25/2007 8:55:23 AM
• Authorities Continue Search for German Hostage in Afghanistan | 18.12.2007
  • German 'kidnapped' in Afghanistan, 17 December 2007
• Merchant Vessel Golden Nori Released, Navy News | December 13, 2007, Somalia-based pirates seized the Golden Nori Oct. 28 and held the 23-man crew hostage in Somali territorial waters.
  • (UPDATE 2) 9 RP seamen freed by Somali hostage-takers By Veronica Uy, INQUIRER.net Last updated 12:38:00 12/12/2007
• Cops nab Abu man convicted in absentia for Dos Palmas case 12/11/2007 3:26 PM
  • Philippines kidnappers who beheaded US hostage jailed. Ian MacKinnon, south-east Asia correspondent Thursday December 6, 2007
  • FACTBOX-Philippine hostage saga. Thu Dec 6, 2007 1:23am EST MANILA, Dec 6 (Reuters) - A Manila court sentenced 14 members of Muslim militant group Abu Sayyaf to life in prison on Thursday for the kidnapping of 20 people from a beach resort in 2001 and the decapitation of three of them, including an American.
• Court sentences missionary kidnappers in the Philippines Posted: 10 December, 2007
• Bangladeshi hostage freed in Afghanistan: NGO AFP - Dec 8, 2007
• Greek cops rescue Bangladeshi held hostage by compatriots 2007-12-08
• Three U.S. workers held since 2003 and a politician captive since 2002 are seen on tapes found with FARC. They are the first 'proof of life' for the captives in four years. By Chris Kraul, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer December 1, 2007
• Colombian hostage from South Georgia may still be alive. Updated: Dec 1, 2007 12:50 PM
• Clinton office siege ends with arrest of hostage taker. 1st December 2007, 9:15 WST
  • Clinton Office Hostage Standoff Ends Friday, Nov. 30, 2007 By AP
• Cinq pays discutent de représailles militaires contre les pirates Somaliens. Par Rédacteur en chef, Publié le 23 novembre 2007, dernière mise à jour le 23 novembre 2007.
  • U.S. Navy Rescues South Korean Fishing Boats Held Hostage by Pirates. Sunday, November 04, 2007
  • Somali Pirates Release Sailors in 174 Days By Kang Shin-who Staff Reporter 11-04-2007 23:39
• Five hostage oil workers freed in Sudan 11.19.07, 10:02 AM ET
• Eight Hostage Soldiers Released. The eight soldiers taken hostage after a PKK attack in Daglica, Hakkari, on 21 October, have been released. They were handed over to a delegation from Turkey. Bıa news agency 05-11-2007
• Kurdish rebels release eight Turkish troops Ankara, November 04, 2007
• Hostage Poles in Nigeria brought to safety. Polish Radio External Service, Poland - Oct 30, 2007
• Irish hostage rescued in Ghana Last Updated: 31/10/2007 21:23
• Crew wins deadly pirate battle off Somalia October 30, 2007 -- Updated 2124 GMT (0524 HKT)
  • US ship helps North Korea vessel crew overpower Somali pirates MOGADISHU (AFP) 2007-10-31
• Nine Filipinos among 23 seamen seized by pirates in Somalia Oct 31, 2007, 5:51 GMT
• Japanese ship hijacked in Africa 29 October 2007
• Armed group attacked Eni's Agip offshore platform in Nigeria - UPDATE October 26, 2007: 05:31 AM EST
• Foreign oil companies target of kidnappings by Darfur rebels. Militants accuse China in particular of fuelling conflict with royalties that seldom benefit the poor Oct 26, 2007 04:30 AM
  • Canadian taken hostage by Darfur rebels The Associated Press October 25, 2007 at 6:41 AM EDT
  • Canadian taken hostage in Sudan, Ottawa says Staff and Reuters October 25, 2007
• Alan Johnston plans return to World Service 26 October 2007
• "Время остановилось пять лет назад". В Москве вспомнили жертв одного из самых страшных терактов в истории России 26.10.2007 / GZT.ru
  • Cérémonie de commémoration à Moscou pour l'anniversaire de la prise d'otages rue Doubrovka 12:45 | 26/ 10/ 2007
• Hostage Soldiers Are AliveThe PKK has published photographs of the eight soldiers it took hostage at the weekend. Bıa news centre 24-10-2007 Tolga KORKUT
  • U.S. Urges Turkey Not To Invade Iraq Turkey Sends Troops To Border; 8 Soldiers Taken Hostage By Kurdish Rebels ANKARA, Turkey, Oct. 22, 2007
• Russia remembers theater hostage-taking Published: 23, 2007 at 7:35 AM
• Nigeria: Hostage-Taking - Stop Paying Ransom -IYC 22 October 2007
• Seven oilfield hostages freed in Nigeria By Tom Ashby Reuters Monday, October 22, 2007; 5:55 PM
• British hostage is one of 7 seized in Nigeria RUSSELL JACKSON Mon 22 Oct 2007
  •  3 foreigners abducted in Nigeria PRETORIA, October 22 (Itar-Tass) -- Three foreigners – a Croat, a Russian and a Briton - were abducted from a coastal oilrig of Royal Dutch Shell in Nigeria early on Sunday morning. 22.10.2007, 01.03
• Released priests in good health in Iraq October 22, 2007
• Chadian rebels take US man hostage October 18 2007 at 02:14PM N'Djamena - A United States humanitarian worker participating in an aid project was captured by Tubu rebels in Tibesti, northern Chad, rebels said on Thursday.
• Local Man Held Hostage in Iran Released After 4 Months - Arrested After Visiting Ailing Mother In Tehran. By Eileen Frere IRVINE, Oct. 16, 2007 (KABC-TV)
• South Korea denies paying Taliban ransom for hostages. SEOUL (AFP) Oct. 16, 2007
  • Taliban 'Use Korean Hostage Cash to U.S., U.K.'  Oct.15,2007
• Seoul faces criticism over continued captivity of S. Korean sailors in Somalia By Byun Duk-kun 2007/10/15 11:39 KST The families, mostly from the southern port city of Busan, are expected to visit Seoul again later Monday to demand a meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
  • Hostage in Somalia Urges Gov't to Help End Captivity Johannesburg _ A South Korean hostage being held by Somali pirates for five months Friday asked the Seoul government to expedite negotiations for release of him and 23 other fishermen, saying they were being treated like animals. 10-12-2007 16:56
  • UN welcomes French offer to counter Somali pirates Thu 27 Sep 2007, 6:41 GMT NAIROBI (Reuters) - The U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed an offer by France to help guard ships from pirates as they carry desperately needed food aid to Somalia.
• AFGHAN HOSTAGE HORRORS By ANN MARLOWE October 15, 2007
• Four POSCO officials taken hostage, released Co reacts sharply, condemns act Bhubaneswar, Oct. 13
• Police colluded with Taliban, say Afghan and German hostage Friday October 12
• Uribe, Chavez meet for hostage swap talks, unveil pipeline DigitalJournal.com, Canada - Oct 12, 2007
• Kidnapper Of Japanese Student In Iran Seek To Swap Hostage With Jailed Son  October 12, 2007 9:03 p.m. EST
• Taliban frees 5 hostages in exchange KABUL, Afghanistan // A German engineer and four Afghans taken hostage in July were freed yesterday in exchange for five imprisoned criminals, an Afghan official said. October 11, 2007
  • 6 Taliban exchanged for kidnapped German, 4 Afghans, official says Associated Press - October 10, 2007 9:53 AM ET
• Army will release us soon, says hostage soldiers Thursday October 11, 2007 (2202 PST)
• Filipino hostage freed by Nigerian gunmen Africasia, UK - Oct 9, 2007
• Nigerian troops free British hostage in oil delta Reuters Friday, October 5, 2007; 3:34 AM
  • Nigeria: un otage britannique libéré par des soldats nigérians 5 oct. 07
• Colombia Captives' Families Undaunted by Talks Delay (Update1) By Helen Murphy Oct. 4 (Bloomberg)
• 4 More Kidnappings In Afghanistan, Red Cross Workers, Who Helped Other Hostages, Abducted With Their Drivers, KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 27, 2007 Word came Thursday morning that two Red Cross workers last month helped free 19 South Korean hostages were kidnapped themselves Wednesday - along with their two Afghan drivers - while trying to negotiate with militants on behalf of a German hostage.
  • 11:21 Afirman que rehén alemán fue liberado y secuestrado otra vez en Afganistán 07.09.27 Kabul/Ginebra/Berlín.- El ingeniero alemán Rudolf B., secuestrado desde hace más de dos meses en Afganistán, fue liberado el miércoles y luego secuestrado nuevamente, según versiones coincidentes de las autoridades locales y de círculos talibán.
  • Deutsche Geisel freigelassen, dann erneut verschleppt, 28. September 2007, 04:00 Uhr, Kabul - Die Freilassung des seit zwei Monaten in Afghanistan entführten deutschen Bauingenieurs Rudolf B. ist offenkundig in letzter Minute gescheitert.
  • Four Red Cross hostages freed in Afghanistan, 29 Sep 2007, 1833 hrs IST,AP
  • Entführte Rot-Kreuz-Helfer in Afghanistan wieder frei, Afghanischer Regierungssprecher: "Alle wohlauf" 29.09.2007
• Hope for relatives of Colombian hostages, BY PABLO BACHELET Sep. 27, 2007
• Mali: les rebelles touareg libèrent un autre otage (médiateur) 26.09.07 | 16h39
• Two Italian soldiers freed after Afghan kidnapping Sept 24, 2007 - HERAT, Afghanistan (AFP) — NATO freed two kidnapped Italian soldiers in western Afghanistan in an operation which left both troops wounded and up to nine of their captors dead, officials said.
• Khmer Rouge "Brother No. 2" faces U.N. court Wed Sep 19, 2007 1:44pm IST PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Khmer Rouge "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea, Pol Pot's top surviving henchman, was arrested on Wednesday at his house on the Thai border and taken to Phnom Penh to face the U.N. "Killing Fields" tribunal for the first time.
• Bangladesh man kidnapped in Afghanistan Sep 15, 2007 KABUL (AFP) — A Bangladeshi development worker was kidnapped in Afghanistan by unknown men in a brazen daytime attack on his office, officials said Sunday -- the latest in a string of abductions of foreigners.
  • Three held over Afghan kidnapping 18 September 2007 Afghan police say they have arrested three men in connection with the kidnapping of a Bangladeshi aid worker.
• Freed Belgian hostage in Iran united with family Sat 15 Sep 2007, 20:58 GMT TEHRAN (Reuters) - A Belgian man taken hostage by bandits in southeast Iran last month was reunited with his parents in Tehran on Saturday after Iranian forces helped secure his release, Iran's foreign minister said.
• 50 Years On, Romanian Still Seeks Lost North Korean Husband 2007.09.12 SEOUL—More than half a century after she met and fell in love with her North Korean husband, an elderly Romanian woman is hoping to be reunited with him before she dies, following four decades of enforced separation by authorities in the isolated Stalinist state.
• Amenazan con matar a un rehén si Alemania no se marcha de Afganistán 11/09/2007 06:46 (CET) DUBAI.- Un grupo insurgente de Irak amenazó a Alemania con matar a un rehén de esa nacionalidad si en diez días no retiraba sus soldados de Afganistán. El joven fue secuestrado hace más de siete meses junto a su madre, que fue liberada en julio.
• Entführer drohen erneut mit Ermordung der Irak-Geisel 10.09.2007 Washington (AFP) — Sieben Monate nach der Verschleppung des Deutschen Sinan Krause im Irak haben die Entführer erneut mit der Ermordnung ihrer Geisel gedroht.
• 'Farc hostage' bodies recovered 10 September 2007 It is thought that the 11 are all lawmakers, killed three months ago while being held hostage by the rebels.
• Algérie: un otage égyptien du GSPC libéré (services de sécurité) 09.09.07 | 13h12 L'otage égyptien enlevé il y a près de quatre mois par un groupe islamiste armé a été libéré jeudi par les forces de sécurité algérien, ont indiqué dimanche les services de sécurité dans un communiqué.
• Foreign hostage believed killed in Nigeria Sat Sep 8, 2007 5:21pm BST PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Nigerian troops found the corpse of a man believed to be a foreign hostage floating in a creek on Saturday near a village where five people died in fighting this week, a military spokesman said.
• Taliban claim abduction of soldiers, demand withdrawal of troops September 03, 2007 PESHAWAR: Local Taliban militants said on Sunday they had abducted scores of soldiers, demanding the withdrawal of troops from tribal areas in exchange for their release.
• Freed by Taliban, 19 South Korean Hostages Will Face Relief and Anger Back Home By CHOE SANG-HUN Published: September 2, 2007 [July 19, 2007 - 23 South Koreans were kidnapped by the Taliban. Two of 23 hostages were killed by the Taliban kidnappers. The remaining 21 hostages were released.]
  • Taliban Claims to Have Killed Second South Korean Hostage Monday, July 30, 2007
  • Талибы сообщили об убийстве второго южнокорейского заложника 30 июля 2007 Афганское движение "Талибан" объявило в понедельник о расправе над вторым из 23 взятых ими 19 июля в заложники южнокорейских христиан-миссионеров. Мужчина был расстрелян после того, как истек очередной срок ультиматума с требованием к правительству освободить из заключения своих сторонников
  • Taliban: One South Korean dead; more to follow if demands not met July 25, 2007
  • Taliban extend deadline for 23 Korean hostages July 22, 2007
• Moscow Marks Third Anniversary of Beslan School Hostage Crisis Saturday, September 01, 2007 MOSCOW — Top Russian officials met with survivors and relatives of victims of the Beslan school hostage seizure on Saturday, the third anniversary of the horrifying siege's beginning.
  • Eyewitness: Hostage terror 3 September, 2004
• Taliban threaten to kidnap more foreigners Aug 31 2007 icWales Taliban militants vowed to abduct more foreigners after ending a six-week hostage drama by releasing the last seven of a group of kidnapped South Koreans under a deal with the Seoul government.
• Video shows desperate German Taleban hostageTim Albone in Kandahar. August 23, 2007 The video, broadcast today on Tolo TV, a private Afghan station, show the first pictures of Rudolph Blechschmidt, 62, since his capture. He appears in poor health and is slumped over, holding his chest and coughing.