Red Cross say 80 survived prison massacre

International Red Cross say it is trying to see around 80 survivors found in a fortress in northern Afghanistan where hundreds…

International Red Cross say it is trying to see around 80 survivors found in a fortress in northern Afghanistan where hundreds of Taleban and non-Afghan al Qaeda prisoners were killed this week.

The survivors, some injured, had surrendered and were taken from the Qala-i-Janghi fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif to another detention centre yesterday, said International Committee of the Red Cross spokesman Mr Bernard Barrett.

US air strikes, shelling by Northern Alliance tanks and ground attacks by US and British special forces were used to suppress what has been claimed as a revolt by Taleban prisoners, prompted expressions of concern from rights group Amnesty International which called for an investigation.

"We have no confirmed figures of our own because we were not able yesterday to interview or to register them, that's something we hope to do today or in coming days," Mr Barrett said. "There were around 80."