Around the World: Afghanistan

Taliban: Rules for captives

The Taliban have adopted rules for the handling of captured "infidel fighters", the pan-Arab Al-Jazeera television channel reported yesterday as the Afghan militia continued to hold a US soldier. The rules give the militia's leader, Mullah Omar, authority to decide on the fate of its captives according to the strict Islamic sharia rules adopted in the 13-chapter "constitution", the Qatar-based television said. "If an infidel fighter is captured, he can be killed, exchanged or be offered for ransom, depending on the Muslim interest," the rules stated."If soldiers surrender to the Mujahedeen, they will not be killed, they will be rewarded if they give up their weapons."

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