No resolution of hunger strike

Some of the hunger striking asylum seekers

A meeting between hunger-striking Afghan asylum seekers and the Irish government has ended without agreement.

The 41 men have vowed to starve to death unless they can stay in the Irish Republic, claiming they fear being tortured in their homeland.

In a statement released after Tuesday's meeting, the Irish Department of Justice said the hunger strikers had asked for time to consider their position.

The department is refusing to negotiate on the men's applications for refugee status.

Earlier, the men agreed to drink some water after the meeting with government officials was granted.

Six of the men have been hospitalised. One was reported to be critically ill, suffering from severe dehydration.

The men, on the third day of their protest at St Patrick's Cathedral, were taken to St James' Hospital on Tuesday after their condition deteriorated.

Appeals process

Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell has urged the men to stop the protest but said he would not negotiate with them.

He said the men had not yet exhausted the asylum appeals process.

On Sunday, 33 men began refusing food and water in Dublin and were joined by eight others on Monday.

They insisted they would die one by one unless they are granted political asylum and fear being tortured if they are sent home.

The group, which includes seven teenage boys, were visited by Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Dr John Neill.

The clergyman pleaded with the men to drink water and said their action was inappropriate as the church did not have adequate facilities.

A cathedral spokesman said it appeared that many of the men had already begun their fast before entering St Patrick's.