AFGHANISTAN

Last Sunday, the trial of eight foreigners (Americans Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer, Australians Peter Bunch and Diana Thomas, and Germans Georg Taubmann, Katrin Jelinek, Margrit Stebner and Silke Durrkopf ) accused of trying to convert Afghan Muslims to Christianity resumed with the Taliban chief justice Noor Mohammad Saqib saying the threat of attack by the United States would not influence the court.
"There will be no discrimination or injustice against you," he said "the decision of the court will be based on Islamic justice without taking into consideration (differences) between Muslims and non-Muslims."
It had been adjourned from the previous day because the arrival of Pakistani defence lawyer Atif Ali Khan had been delayed by uncertainties surrounding the threat of attack by the U.S. in pursuit of Saudi-born fugitive Osama bin Laden. Before, the trial was suspended for almost three weeks following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States and fears of American retaliatory strikes.
The eight were brought to court dressed in traditional Afghan clothes by armed Taliban fighters. They seemed well, although one woman was said to be suffering from a mild illness.
Lawyer Khan was given between three and 15 days to prepare the defence case.
"We have been assured of all cooperation ... the charges, the evidence, anything that we need will be provided to us," Khan said.