Taleban 'release tribal elders'

By M Ilyas Khan
BBC News, Islamabad

Taleban militants in Pakistan's tribal region have released 13 elders they took hostage three days ago, a spokesman for the militants has said.

He said the elders in Bajaur were freed after they promised not to conduct anti-Taleban propaganda or raise any tribal force against them.

He said the elders had threatened that the Taleban would face force if they did not leave the Mandal area.

Residents of Mandal told the BBC Urdu service the elders said no such thing.

The residents said the elders had met the local Taleban leaders and asked them to leave the area because they were attracting artillery fire from the government, causing casualties and material damage.

Witnesses said the Taleban handed the hostages to another tribal council of elders who gave guarantees that they would not ask the Taleban to leave.

The elders were held by the Taleban in the Anbar area of the neighbouring Mohmand tribal region, where they had gone to meet the Taleban leaders this week.