KABUL - The foreign minister of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban was quoted on Sunday saying the hardline movement might consider swapping eight detained foreign aid workers for an Islamic militant jailed in the United States.
But Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil, quoted in the Taliban's Shariat Daily, stressed that the trial of the aid workers, accused of promoting Christianity, would first have to be completed.
"The authorities and responsibles of the Islamic Emirate (of Afghanistan) will deliberate about such a request, and after consideration and research, a decision will be taken," he was quoted as saying.
"But above all we need to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court (in the trial)," he added.
Islamist sources outside Afghanistan said last week the Taliban might be willing to free the eight aid workers if Washington allowed the ailing Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, jailed for life for planning guerrilla attacks, to go to Afghanistan.
Relatives of the blind Muslim cleric said they had written letters to both the hardline Islamist Taliban and the State Department in Washington.
Four Germans, two Australians and two Americans, all from German-based Christian relief agency Shelter Now International (SNI) were arrested with 16 Afghan colleagues five weeks ago on charges that could carry the death penalty.
Judges completed the fifth day of the trial on Sunday. The detainees appeared for the first and only time so far on Saturday and said they were innocent of proselytising.
Muttawakil said the Taliban had not received an official request for the proposed prisoner swap.
"We have heard this news (exchange) through the media that his family has asked the leadership of the Islamic Emirate and similarly proposed to the American authorities," he said.
"First we should wait for the decision of the Supreme Court of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the American authorities have not contacted us in this regard," he added. "The request requires clarification and comprehension. We have not been in touch with the Americans about this."
Sheikh Omar, the spiritual leader of Egypt's main militant group a-Gama's al-Islamiya (Islamic Group), was convicted in 1995 of plotting to blow up the World Trade Centre and bomb the Unted Nations.
There has been no comment from Washington.
07:06 09-09-01
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