Taleban accuse opponents in Afghanistan of torturing prisoners-of-war

The Taleban authorities in Afghanistan have accused the opposition alliance of torturing Taleban prisoners-of-war they are holding, forcing them to work and denying them proper food rations.

A Taleban spokesman called on the international community to intervene to stop such abuses.

The BBC Kabul correspondent says there's been no response to the accusations from the alliance, but the Taleban themselves are often reported to have mistreated prisoners.

He says journalists and aid workers have been allowed to visit jails in the Panjshir Valley -- the focus of Taleban concern -- and as yet there have been no independent reports of major abuses.

Meanwhile the Taleban are reported to have released twenty-eight captured opposition fighters.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service