A Taliban spokesperson later announced another male hostage had been killed because the government did not cede to the group's demands.

He said the male hostages were unable to defend them.

Supported by two tentacles, he swept the one clutching his male hostage across the street tripping up seven officers with a single move.

More to the point," said Jack, "we now know that there are two male hostages and two females.

The four male hostages were released on February 10, 2006.

About 200 women were freed immediately, leaving only male hostages.

One inquiry has suggested that it may have prompted the militants to kill the group of male hostages shot on the first day.

Fortunately for the ladies, the Afghans considered it bad luck to kill a woman, but some of the male hostages died.

The male hostage, David Beverly, was fatally shot in the initial minutes, the authorities said.

There was controversy over the deaths of two terrorists in the telex room, where the male hostages were held.