South Korean hostages are seen walking after being released by Taleban militants in Ghazni province China 'to Flex Military Might Abroad as Recession Hobbles U.S.' Gates: U.S. Troop Levels in Afghanistan Will Rise Sharply U.S. Moves to Counter Chinese Military Modernization U.S. Asks Korea to Help in Afghanistan Rebuilding Bush Sending More Troops to Afghanistan French Lawmakers Vote to Extend Afghan Mission Korea Looking at Ways to Support U.S. in Afghanistan No Korean Troops to Afghanistan Yet The Ghosts of Kabul U.S. May Double Troop Presence in Afghanistan Gov't to Boost Support Team in Afghanistan Korea, Japan to Discuss Afghan Rebuilding Projects

The Taleban freed four women and one man, hours after releasing the first group of three women. The hostages were handed over to tribal chiefs in southern Ghazni province Wednesday and then to Red Cross officials.

On Tuesday, the Taleban said it would soon free all the hostages.

A South Korean presidential spokesman says the deal was reached after Seoul agreed to withdraw 200 of its troops from Afghanistan by year's end and suspend missionary work in the country.

Taleban militants abducted 23 South Koreans as they traveled by bus to southern Afghanistan as part of a Christian aid group. The militants released two female hostages earlier this month and executed two male hostages last month.

In other developments Wednesday, a suicide bomber killed four civilians and two Afghan soldiers in eastern Paktika province.

On Tuesday, the U.S.-led coalition says more than 100 suspected Taleban militants were killed during a battle involving air strikes in southern Afghanistan. At least four coalition soldiers were wounded in the fighting, including one Afghan.

A coalition statement says a joint force of U.S. and Afghan troops was ambushed by Taleban insurgents in Kandahar.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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