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Taleban Swat truce 'indefinite' Taleban Swat truce 'indefinite'
(40 minutes later)
Taleban insurgents in the troubled north-western Swat valley of Pakistan have announced an indefinite ceasefire.Taleban insurgents in the troubled north-western Swat valley of Pakistan have announced an indefinite ceasefire.
The announcement follows a deal struck last week between a radical cleric and authorities that brings Sharia law in return for an end to the insurgency.The announcement follows a deal struck last week between a radical cleric and authorities that brings Sharia law in return for an end to the insurgency.
The Taleban have been assessing that deal and Tuesday's move followed a meeting under the group's leader in the region, Maulana Fazlullah.The Taleban have been assessing that deal and Tuesday's move followed a meeting under the group's leader in the region, Maulana Fazlullah.
The scenic valley of Swat has long been blighted by militant violence.The scenic valley of Swat has long been blighted by militant violence.
"Today the shura [consultative council] met under Maulana Fazlullah and decided to hold a ceasefire for an indefinite period," Taleban spokesman in the region Muslim Khan was quoted by the news agency AFP as saying. 'Goodwill gesture'
"Today the shura (consultative council) met under Maulana Fazlullah and decided to hold a ceasefire for an indefinite period," Taleban spokesman in the region Muslim Khan was quoted by the news agency AFP as saying.
"We are releasing all prisoners unconditionally. Today we released four paramilitary soldiers and we will release all security personnel in our custody as a goodwill gesture," he said."We are releasing all prisoners unconditionally. Today we released four paramilitary soldiers and we will release all security personnel in our custody as a goodwill gesture," he said.
The Taleban had been observing a temporary, 10-day ceasefire that was due to expire on Wednesday. A previous 10-day truce announced by the militants was set to expire on Wednesday.
Will Sharia law bring order? The cleric, Sufi Mohammad, who is also Maulana Fazlullah's father-in-law, has been mediating between the government and the militants.
On Monday, he urged the militants to end the patrolling of streets and to allow the government to set up the Islamic courts they have been fighting for.
Swat has been the scene of bloody clashes between militants and government forces since November 2007. Officials say more than 1,200 civilians have been killed in fighting.
An earlier peace agreement broke down in mid-2008.
The Taleban have also destroyed nearly 200 schools, most of them for girls, during a sustained campaign against secular education in Swat.
Earlier this month, the North West Frontier Province government signed an agreement with Sufi Mohammad's proscribed Tanzim-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM) for the implementation of a Sharia justice system in Swat.
Sufi Mohammad, who opposes militancy, led thousands of TNSM workers into Swat to set up a peace camp there and to start talks with Maulana Fazlullah.
Preconditions
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says the militants are now likely to close their checkpoints in the region as the first step towards the new justice system.
On Monday, the TNSM announced 10 preconditions for its successful implementation.
These included the evacuation of all schools and hospital buildings by the army and an end to all security checks that hamper the movement of people.
The TNSM has called on the government to station troops away from civilian areas.
The group has also called on both sides to release the prisoners they are holding and asked the government to call back to duty the policemen and paramilitary soldiers who were suspended due to desertion or absence from duty.
It urged the government to compensate families that suffered human and material losses and called on thousands of displaced people to return to their homes.