In a rare use of the death penalty, Afghanistan has executed eight prisoners on death row.
Attorney-General Rahmatullah Nazari said the eight were executed on November 20 after being convicted of crimes including murder and rape.
He says that courts had rejected appeals lodged by the prisoners and that Afghan President Hamid Karzai had also approved their sentences.
According to the BBC Pashto service, the Afghan president has signed execution orders for 16 convicts.
But the Afghan Islamic Press news agency puts the number as high as 22.
Attorney-General Rahmatullah Nazari said the eight were executed on November 20 after being convicted of crimes including murder and rape.
He says that courts had rejected appeals lodged by the prisoners and that Afghan President Hamid Karzai had also approved their sentences.
According to the BBC Pashto service, the Afghan president has signed execution orders for 16 convicts.
But the Afghan Islamic Press news agency puts the number as high as 22.