GHAZNI, Afghanistan – The Taliban sought guarantees of safety from the U.N. mission in Afghanistan for possible hostage talks with South Korean officials in government-controlled territory, a purported spokesman for the militants said Friday.

Retired Bosnian Serb General Zdravko Tolimir, who was recently captured and sent to The Hague war crimes tribunal for alleged involvement in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, refused to attend a court session Wednesday (August 1st) regarding his health, claiming he was “in excellent condition”.

Former chief of the Turkish General Staff General Hilmi Ozkok said on Wednesday (August 1st) that any decision on launching military operations in northern Iraq depends on the government.