Japanese 'journalist' arrested by Taleban

The Taleban have accused foreign journalists of espionage

A Japanese man has been detained by Taleban soldiers in eastern Afghanistan, in what appears to be the latest arrest of a foreign journalist since the US-led military campaign began.

The deputy governor of Nangarhar province, Mowlawi Sadrazam, informed the BBC of the arrest, adding that the man's Pakistani interpreter had also been detained. Both men have been taken to the city of Jalalabad for questioning.

It is thought that the man is a freelance photographer from Japan, but Tokyo says it is still trying to confirm reports.

The aid workers have been held at a Kabul school

The Taleban have said they will come down hard on foreign journalists found illegally within the country. They are currently detaining Michel Peyrard of Paris Match magazine, as well as two Pakistani reporters, Mohammad Irfan and Mukkaram Khan.

The Taleban claim the trio may be spies and they could face the death penalty if found guilty of espionage.

Mr Peyrard, who is 44, was arrested on 9 October near Jalalabad after entering Afghanistan disguised under a head-to-toe Muslim woman's veil - or burqa - that all Afghan women are obliged to wear.

A BBC correspondent says that the disguise has deeply angered Taleban authorities, who claim it insults Afghan women.

British journalist Yvonne Ridley was released by the Taleban after being held for more than a week for illegally entering the country under a burqa, but Taleban officials have warned that Mr Peyrard will not be treated with the same leniency.

There is still no information on the fate of Ms Ridley's two Pakistani guides.

Aid workers

The fate of the eight foreign aid workers who were arrested in August by the Taleban on charges of preaching Christianity, is also unclear.

The aid workers - four Germans, two Americans and two Australians - are being held in the Afghan capital Kabul. On the eve of the bombing raids against Afghanistan, the Taleban offered to hand them over if the US stopped its threats of strikes.

As the war continues, the eight are still facing the death penalty if they are found guilty of the charges. The Taleban have produced as evidence bibles and Christian cassettes which they claim the workers were using to convert local people.

Their lawyer, Atif Ali Khan, based in neighbouring Pakistan, says he expects a verdict to be issued this week.