Two Australian aid workers detained by the Taliban militia in Afghanistan are suffering from anxiety and will be visited by a doctor, a report said today.
"We gave permission to the Australian diplomat to send a doctor to see the detained Australians. We think that they are not sick but suffering from anxiety or grief," a foreign ministry spokesman told Afghan Islamic Press.
"The Australian diplomat and the doctor will see the detainees this afternoon".
Australians Mr Peter Bunch and Ms Diana Thomas were arrested in early August with 16 Afghans, four Germans and two Americans - all staff of German-based aid group Shelter Now.
They were detained for allegedly preaching Christianity, a crime punishable by death in the devoutly Muslim country.
Red Cross officials visited the detainees on Sunday, and Pakistan-based diplomats - and the parents of the two young American women in custody - were allowed access on Sunday.
The Taliban official said the Americans' parents would be allowed another visit, but no time was specified. "The parents will also get permission to see their daughters - we try to make the guests happy," he said.
AFP