UPDATE: The Taliban has now released more than 160 civilian passengers from the bus a day after they were kidnapped from three buses in northern Afghanistan. But they are keeping at least 20 soldiers and policemen as captives, an official said on Tuesday.
The Taliban rejected an Afghan government offer of a ceasefire on Aug. 20 and said they would persist with their attacks, militant commanders said, while insurgents ambushed three buses and nearly 200 passengers traveling for a holiday.
