KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug 16, SPA -- Three American counter terrorism vigilantes accused of running a private jail in Afghanistan appeared in court Monday and denied charges that they tortured eight prisoners. The group's leader, Jonathan Idema, accused authorities ofwithholding hundreds of documents and videos which heclaimed proved his contacts with the CIA, FBI and the U.S.Department of Defense, according to a report of the Associated Press. Idema, Brett Bennett and Edward Caraballo were arrestedwhen Afghan security forces raided their makeshift jail ina house in Kabul on July 5. They face charges includinghostage-taking and "mental and physical torture." They face up to 20 years in Afghan jails if convicted.--SPA1318 Local Time 1018 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/192344