Reports that virtually all the Taliban prisoners held in the Qala-i-Jhangi jail in northern Afghanistan have been killed demand independent investigation, Green Party Foreign Affairs spokesman Keith Locke said today.

Amnesty International called for such an inquiry after the first reporters into the jail reported no survivors after three days of US air strikes and heavy-weapons fire from US and British special forces and Northern Alliance fighters.

"According to reports, all those who tried to surrender were killed," said Mr Locke. "Witnesses report finding bodies with their hands tied behind their back and bullet holes to the head."

"This complete disregard for the rules of war reflects on all those countries supporting this war, including New Zealand."

"How can this Government continue to justify its involvement as a 'fight against terrorism' when massacres occur on a regular basis?" Mr Locke asked.

"US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has given licence to murder by declaring it preferable for 'foreign' Taliban fighters to be killed, rather than allowed to return to their own country.

"New Zealand gets more blood on its hands with every day it participates in this war," said Mr Locke."The Government should bring our SAS troops home."

ENDS

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