Islamic clerics in Afghanistan are warning the country's president to stop foreign aid groups from doing missionary work in the country.

Members of the Afghanistan Islamic Council say they are concerned about the activities of some international non-governmental groups that are trying to convert Afghan Muslims to Christianity. The group made the statement after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Friday.

The clerics warned of what they called "catastrophe" if the activities were not prevented.

Taliban militants took some 23 South Korean Christian missionaries hostage in July 2007, killing two and releasing the remainder.

Afghanistan's Islamic Council also urged President Karzai to crack down on certain television programming that it says is spreading immorality and non-Islamic culture in the country.