Afghan men prepare to communicate via video-conference with detainees held at US base in Bagram, 14 Jan 2008

Red Cross officials in Kabul say suspects detained by U.S. troops in Afghanistan have been allowed to speak with family members through a new video-teleconference system.

Officials said Monday, that about 60 families have so far taken advantage of the opportunity to speak with prisoners held at the detention center on the U.S. Bagram Air Force Base. Many families have not spoken to their detained relatives for several years. Around 600 detainees are being held at the facility.

The International Committee of the Red Cross helped organize the initiative, which is the first of its kind.

Since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, hundreds of Taliban and al-Qaida suspects have been detained, along with others accused of terrorist activities.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.