Northern Alliance captures Australian fighter

An Australian fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan and captured by Northern Alliance fighters.

He will be handed over to US military forces.

The Australian Government says 26-year-old David Hicks was captured on December 9th in Afghanistan.

Hicks had trained with terror suspect Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network and has been fighting with the Taliban against the US coalition.

After converting to Islam Mr Hicks moved to Pakistan in 1999 where he trained with a Pakistan based militant Islamic group.

It is now expected that David Hicks will be handed over to US military authorities in Afghanistan to ensure he is held in a safe location.

Under the Foreign Incursions law, Australian citizens face prison sentences of up to 14 years for working as mercenaries.