Taliban Extends Deadline on Koreans

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A purported Taliban spokesman said Monday the hard-line militia has extended its deadline on the fate of 23 South Korean hostages who were seized last week.

Qari Yousef Ahmadi, who claims to speak for the Taliban, said the militants had pushed back the deadline until Tuesday evening after the Afghan government refused to release any of the 23 Taliban prisoners the insurgents want freed.

The developments came as the U.S.-led coalition reported killing some 50 militants in southern Afghanistan's poppy-growing heartland.

The kidnappers have extended their ultimatum at least three times. Afghan officials in Ghazni province have met the …