KABUL, Afghanistan (Islamweb & News Agencies) - Three Western diplomats sat out a second frustrating day in Kabul Wednesday as a meeting with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban over the fate of eight foreign aid workers held for promoting Christianity failed to materialize.(Read photo caption below)

The Pakistan-based diplomats from Germany, Australia and the United States said consular access to the four Germans, two Australians and two Americans remained the priority, but they also wanted word on what punishment the detained workers faced.
As investigations go on, Taliban have refused all access to the foreign detainees but the diplomats flew to Kabul Tuesday hoping the Islamic movement would have a change of heart.
Twenty-four staff from German-based Christian relief agency Shelter Now International -- the eight foreigners and 16 Afghans -- are in their second week of detention.
Earlier Wednesday the Taliban's council of ministers held its weekly meeting when the detainees and consular access were due to be discussed.
``During the day the outcome and decision of the meeting will be made public as to what should be done in this regard,'' a Taliban foreign ministry official told Reuters. By early evening there had been no word.
MONITOR ACCESS
The diplomats said the Taliban were welcome to monitor any consular access, which they say is needed to verify Taliban assurances that the detainees were being well cared for.
``We have no objection if (the Taliban) fully monitor the process of the visit,'' said Adams.
``We'd also like to know what are the penalties that apply for these allegations, if in fact they are proven,'' Adams said after waiting in vain with his colleagues for more than two hours for a meeting with Taliban officials. ``There has been a lot of speculation (on punishment) ... We need to have factual information.''
International norms allow for consular access by a representative from a detainee's country within 24 hours, but some diplomats say the Taliban, who are recognized by just three countries as a legitimate regime, have failed to grasp this.
Adams said the diplomats had no time limit for their stay in Kabul and stressed bids to visit the aid workers would continue.
The Western envoys met the Taliban's foreign ministry protocol chief after arrival Tuesday and diplomatic sources say they were denied higher-level talks.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Western diplomats from the U.S. David Donahue(R), Australia's Alistair Adams(C), and Germany's Helmut Landes wait at Kabul airport after their arrival at the Afghan capital on August 14, 2001. The diplomats' initial efforts to see eight foreign aid workers detained for promoting Christianity were rebuffed by Afghanistan's ruling Taliban. (Sayed Salahuddin/Reuters)