TALIBAN'S CHIEF OF CONSULATE DEPARTMENT ADDRESSES THE MEDIA IN KABUL, 2001-08-16 (photo)

Chief of Consulate Department of the Foreign Ministry of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement Abdur Rahman Hotak listens to a reporter`s question at a press conference at foreign ministry in Kabul August 16, 2001. He said the Taliban have not told German, Australian and American diplomats to leave Afghanistan as they had told journalists earlier in the day. Hotak said the diplomats will not be given access to see their eight nationals detained on charges of preaching Christianity to Muslim Afghans and that they can follow the process of the investigation from Taliban`s embassy in Pakistan. MK/PB