South Koreans were waiting anxiously for news today about the fate of 22 missionaries held captive by the Taleban in Afghanistan after the latest deadline in the hostage crisis past.

The leader of the Korean missionaries, snatched in Afghanistan last Thursday, has already been murdered and fears are growing for the safety of the remainder of the mostly female group.

The Taleban had threatened to kill all of the hostages unless a deal to release rebel forces was reached by noon (0730GMT). Their fate remains unknown amid confusion in Afghanistan, it is believed that Afghan elders are continuing negotiations today.

The South Korean presidential envoy, who was dispatched to Kabul yesterday, is still waiting for an audience with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, to discuss the plight of the prisoners. Baek Jong Chun will urge the Afghan Government to take a more flexible approach to negotiations with the Taleban, according to reports in Korea.

The misery of the hostages was brought to the world’s attention last night when one of the captives, identified by her relatives in Seoul as Yim Hyun-Joo, a 32-year-old nurse, made an emotional appeal for their release.

“Please help us,” she said, weeping, on the American television channel CBS. “We are in a very difficult time. . . all of us are sick and in very bad condition.”

Bae Hyung Kyu, who was leading the mission to provide medical care to poverty stricken Afghans, was the founder of the Saemmul Presbyterian Church. Known as “Mr Smile” by his parishioners, Mr Bae was shot ten times in the head and chest on his 42nd birthday on Wednesday.

Churches across South Korea were filled with thousands of mourners praying for Mr Bae and the remaining 22 missionaries yesterday.

The Korean Government has pledged to make “every possible effort” to release the captives and last night the President announced that he had cancelled his annual holiday in order to deal with the crisis.

In an unprecedented move, President Roh Moo Hyun threatened to arrest internet users criticising the missionaries for fear that their abuse may turn “the crisis into a religious issue”.

Some web columnists and forum users have launched a blistering attack on the evangelical Christian movement that is willing to send people to dangerous regions against the advice of the Government.

South Korean police last night began searching for website posters who may jeopardise the safety of the hostages. They demanded that some online material be removed and said they were considering the arrest of offending authors on defamation charges.

Negotiations in Afghanistan since the group’s capture have been complex with conflicting demands and a reportedly botched attempt by the South Korean Government to pay a ransom.

News that Korean officials tried to pay a ransom angered Afghan politicians, who are desperate to stop kidnapping becoming a successful revenue stream for the rebel Taleban forces.

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