A delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross has visited eight foreign aid workers detained in Afghanistan for allegedly preaching Christianity in the Muslim country.
The detainees -- six women and two men -- are charged with trying to convert Afghan Muslims to Christian beliefs.
The head of the Red Cross delegation in Kabul, Robert Dominin, said five medical staff visited the prisoners today (Sunday) at a detention center in Kabul. He refused to discuss the state of the prisoners' health, but said they were given medical examinations.
The visit was the first contact the two Americans, four Germans and two Australians have had with the outside world since they were jailed three weeks ago by the ruling Taleban militia. Sixteen Afghans accused of helping the foreigners are also in custody.
Afghans found guilty of renouncing Islam or inviting Muslims to change religions face the death penalty under strict Islamic law (Sharia)
Meanwhile, the head of the ruling Taleban has banned all domestic and foreign organizations from using the Internet. The Taleban's religious police will be charged with enforcing the ban and punishing violators. Most Afghans were barred from surfing the World Wide Web in July. Saturday's ban was extended to include foreign aid workers.
The Taleban's hard-line interpretation of Islamic law forbids television, music and dancing.