لینک های دسترسی

Breaking News

Kabul Aid Workers' Trial To Resume Sunday - 2001-09-29


Afghanistan's ruling Taleban rulers say the trial of eight Western aid workers accused of preaching Christianity resumes Sunday.

Atif Ali Khan, the defendants' Pakistani attorney, met Saturday with the four Germans, two Australians and two Americans, who are charged with a crime under the Taleban interpretation of Islamic law.

It is unclear what punishment the Westerners faced. But 16 Afghans who worked with them and were arrested on the same charges face the death penalty if convicted.

Meanwhile, the Taleban militia says it is investigating a British reporter arrested inside Afghanistan earlier this week for possible espionage.

At the same time, Britain's Foreign Office has begun efforts to secure the release of Yvonne Ridley, a veteran reporter for London's Daily and Sunday Express newspapers. The Taleban took Ms. Ridley and two guides into custody, some 60 kilometers from the eastern city of Jalalabad, on charges she entered the country illegally.

On Saturday, Ms. Ridley's father told reporters her family loves her and wants her to return home.

Afghanistan has expelled all Western reporters and stopped issuing visas to foreigners since the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States. The Taleban has come under internatioanl pressure to surrender suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden for trial.

XS
SM
MD
LG