The United Nations has issued an emotional appeal for the immediate release of three of its relief workers taken hostage in Afghanistan last week.
A UN spokesman Manoel de Almeida e Silva, on Sunday called on the kidnappers not to harm the hostages. He said all three require medical attention and that the best response is their release.
Also Sunday, the militants holding the three offered to consider extending a three-day deadline for killing them if their demands are not met by Wednesday. The abductors are demanding that the UN and all foreign troops pull out of Afghanistan and release all Afghans held in foreign prisons.
Meanwhile, Philippine officials arrived in Kabul to help secure the release of one of the hostages -- a Philippine diplomat kidnapped along with two women.