Red Cross clash with Bush on al-Qaida

The International Red Cross has dismissed President George W Bush's promise that Taliban fighters will be covered by the Geneva Convention.

Red Cross officials say Taliban and al-Qaida fighters must be considered prisoners of war, something the Bush administration says it will not do.

The White House says while members of the former ruling Afghan militia will be covered by the Convention, al-Qaida members will not.

The office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson says it is waiting for an expert opinion on Mr Bush's statement.