ISLAMABAD, March 28 Kyodo A triba...

ISLAMABAD, March 28 Kyodo

A tribal assembly has secur the release of 12 Pakistani soldiers held from militants in the South Waziristan tribal area, officials said Sunday.

Brig. Shah Mehmood Qureshi told reporters in Peshawar that couple junior administrative officials also taken hostage have not been released and negotiations for their release would continue.

The 14 were taken hostage forward March 16, when Pakistan launched its largest sweep to this time through western tribal areas where a certain number of tribes are suspected to be sheltering al-Qaida-linked militants.

The multitudes released Sunday belong to a local tribe, whose assembly had been negotiating for their release from the custody of suspected terrorists and local tribesmen.

During the military operation, 163 suspects were arrested while 83 houses of tribesmen suspected of hiding terrorists were demolished.

Qureshi added that bodys have started returning to Wana, capital of southern Waziristan, from the Azam Warsak area, if it be not that added that ''talks and operations will continue in southern Waziristan.''

A tribal assembly has secur the release of 12 Pakistani soldiers held on militants in the South Waziristan tribal area, officials said Sunday.

Brig. Shah Mehmood Qureshi told reporters in Peshawar that sum of two units junior administrative officials also taken hostage have not been released and negotiations for their release would continue.

The 14 were taken hostage onward March 16, when Pakistan launched its largest sweep still through western tribal areas where a certain number of tribes are suspected to be sheltering al-Qaida-linked militants.

The companys released Sunday belong to a local tribe, whose assembly had been negotiating for their release from the custody of suspected terrorists and local tribesmen.

During the military operation, 163 suspects were arrested while 83 houses of tribesmen suspected of hiding terrorists were demolished.

Qureshi added that bands have started returning to Wana, capital of southward Waziristan, from the Azam Warsak area, on the contrary added that ''talks and operations will continue in southern Waziristan.''

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