The US-dominated coalition in Afghanistan on Wednesday confirmed eight Afghan detainees have died at the US detention centers in the country.

"I confirm that eight individuals have died at the US military detention centers in Afghanistan," military spokesman Mark McCanntold journalists at a news briefing.

His comment came after allegations of detainees' abuse from Afghan individuals as well as Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC).

The allegations forwarded early in the year prompted the US army to launch a top to bottom review of all the US holding facilities in the post-Taliban country.

However, the result has yet to be made public while the US military insisted no sign of abuse was found during the inspection.

Earlier the death of three Afghan detainees was confirmed by the US military since its deployment in Afghanistan after the fall of Taliban in late 2001.

However, the spokesman declined to disclose the number of Afghans being held at the US dentition centers while knowledgeable sources put the number over 400 in 22 holding facilities so far.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2004)