Afghanistan prisoners on hunger strike

12/05/2008 15:59:02

About 300 Taliban suspects have been on hunger strike in an Afghan prison for a week.

It is believed the prisoners stopped eating in protest at the handling of their trials by local authorities.

Some of the group have already been found guilty of various offences but claim their trials were not fair.

Others are awaiting trial and say they are being forced into admitting their guilt.

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission in Kandahar has confirmed the hunger strike and has called on authorities to deal with the issue.

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