Kabul, Nov 22, SPA -- Three Americans sentenced to eight to 10 years in jail for torturing Afghans on a freelance hunt for terrorists began their appeal Monday, despite the absence of their U.S. lawyers. Jonathan Idema, Brent Bennett and Edward Caraballo areseeking to overturn their convictions in a trial that embarrassed U.S. and NATO forces and sowed confusion about America's role in Afghanistan. Police brought the three in handcuffs to the office of anAfghan judge in downtown Kabul for a preliminary hearing.Four Afghans convicted as accomplices also attended. Abdul Latif, one of a three-judge panel handling the case,said the absence of the defense team meant they could setno date for the first full court session.--SPA1258 Local Time 0958 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/218775