KABUL, Nov 8: The US-led forces in Afghanistan expressed hope on Monday that three foreign United Nations employees being held hostage by suspected Taliban remnants would be freed soon.

Major Scott Nelson told a regular news briefing in Kabul that the US military was optimistic that efforts to secure the release of the hostages would be successful.

"We are optimistic, hopeful that this will happen succesfully - we certainly hope that something will come out soon," the US military spokesman said. "This is truly an international effort to assist in the safe release of the hostages. I think there is hope," he added.

Mr Nelson's comments come one day after government officials met the kidnappers to seek the release of Annetta Flanigan of Northern Ireland, Filipino diplomat Angelito Nayan and Shqipe Habibi of Kosovo.

The trio, who were overseeing Afghanistan's landmark presidential election, won by Hamid Karzai, were snatched at gunpoint from their vehicle in busy lunchtime traffic in Kabul on Oct 28.

Representatives of Jaishul Muslimeen (Army of Muslims), the Taliban-splinter group claiming to hold the workers, met Afghan officials on Sunday and gave them a list of 26 prisoners whom they want to swap for the hostages, a spokesman for the group said.

Further negotiations are due to take place on Tuesday.-AFP