The Afghan militant group holding three United Nations workers hostage has extended their deadline until Saturday night to allow the Afghan government and the United Nations to hold talks with them, a spokesman for the group said today.
"We have moved the deadline to Saturday night because the UN and Afghan government requested us through a third party for negotiations," Khalid Agha, the spokesman for Jaish-e-Muslimeen (Army of Muslims) group said.
Ms Annetta Flanigan, from Co Armagh, Filipino Mr Angelito Nayan, and Ms Shqipe Hebibi from Kosovo were snatched from a busy street in the capital last Thursday.
The Jaish-e Muslimeen has threatened to kill the trio unless authorities meet a series of demands including the release of all Taliban prisoners, the withdrawal of US troops and the suspension of UN operations in the country.
It was reported earlier today that leaders of the group were meeting today to decide whether to kill them or extend a deadline for authorities to meet their demands.
"The meeting is under way. It will be decided whether to kill them or extend the deadline," Mr Mullah Sabir Momin, a member of the Taliban splinter group's leadership council, said.
He said the group would consider more talks if these were offered by the United Nations or the Afghan government.
Yesterday, a spokesman for the group expressed frustration with the attitude of the government and the United Nations, and said the hostages were sick and suffering from the cold.