The International Red Cross in Afghanistan has recovered the bodies of four Taleban prisoners from the Panjshir Valley, the stronghold of the veteran anti-Taleban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, and taken them to Kabul.

The prisoners died in a road accident.

At the same time, the Red Cross also delivered medical supplies to areas controlled by Commander Massoud.

A Red Cross spokesman said both sides had co-operated in the recovery of the bodies.He said the Red Cross had not been asked to help in a planned large scale exchange of prisoners.