Respect war norms, Afghan factions told

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 27. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed serious concern over reports and allegations of massacres of prisoners who have surrendered to the Northern Alliance.

In a statement issued here, the ICRC said a number of public statements attributed to various leaders involved in the Afghan conflict have implied that the physical integrity of captured foreign fighters cannot be guaranteed.

There have also been reports that in some parts of the country no prisoners would be taken.

The Pakistan Government had taken up the question of safety of pro-Taliban fighters with the ICRC and the ICRC chief was in Kabul on Friday to talk to all the leaders of the Northern Alliance including the President, Mr. Burhanuddin Rabbani.

``In view of the situation in and around the besieged town of Kunduz and in other parts of the country where fighting continues, the ICRC feels it is necessary to impress upon all parties concerned that the rules governing armed conflict must be respected at all times and in all circumstances.

``The ICRC stresses that these rules, formally referred to as international humanitarian law, prohibit orders that there should be no survivors'', the ICRC said.

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Section  : International
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