O’Donnell condemns 'executions' of Taliban prisoners

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O’Donnell, has "unequivocally" condemned the reported human rights abuses in Afghanistan.

Ms O’Donnell said this evening she was seriously concerned by reports of "summary executions" of Taliban prisoners.

Up to 600 rioting Taliban prisoners died at the hands of Northern Alliance forces and US airstrikes at a fort in Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan at the weekend.

She said she "unequivocally" condemned any abuses of human rights, and insisted the capture of those responsible must be "equally important as catching those responsible for the September 11th attacks".

Ireland sent £1.6 million in aid to Afghanistan last year. Ms O’Donnell said today this figure would be greatly increased in the light of the pending humanitarian catastrophe in the country.