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| Taleban announce key withdrawal | Taleban announce key withdrawal |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| The Taleban say they are withdrawing from a Pakistani district where their consolidation of power this week has caused deep concern in the US. | The Taleban say they are withdrawing from a Pakistani district where their consolidation of power this week has caused deep concern in the US. |
| A Taleban spokesman said commander Maulana Fazlullah had issued the order for fighters to pull back from Buner, just 100km (62 miles) from Islamabad. | A Taleban spokesman said commander Maulana Fazlullah had issued the order for fighters to pull back from Buner, just 100km (62 miles) from Islamabad. |
| The US has accused officials in Pakistan of abdicating to the Taleban. | The US has accused officials in Pakistan of abdicating to the Taleban. |
| The Taleban have agreed a peace deal bringing Sharia law to some districts in return for ending their insurgency. | The Taleban have agreed a peace deal bringing Sharia law to some districts in return for ending their insurgency. |
| The peace agreement covers six districts of Malakand division, including the troubled Swat region, in North West Frontier Province (NWFP). | |
| See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
| The Taleban have almost full control of Swat and this week had strengthened operations in Buner. | The Taleban have almost full control of Swat and this week had strengthened operations in Buner. |
| Delegation | Delegation |
| Taleban spokesman Muslim Khan said: "Our leader has ordered that Taleban should immediately be called back from Buner." | Taleban spokesman Muslim Khan said: "Our leader has ordered that Taleban should immediately be called back from Buner." |
| The move came after Maulana Fazlullah had met the commissioner of Malakand. | The move came after Maulana Fazlullah had met the commissioner of Malakand. |
| The Taleban should be gone by Saturday, their spokesman said | The Taleban should be gone by Saturday, their spokesman said |
| Administration officials in NWFP have confirmed that Taleban fighters have started to leave. | Administration officials in NWFP have confirmed that Taleban fighters have started to leave. |
| A delegation from the Taleban and the cleric who negotiated the peace deal, Sufi Muhammad, is on its way to Buner to oversee the withdrawal. | A delegation from the Taleban and the cleric who negotiated the peace deal, Sufi Muhammad, is on its way to Buner to oversee the withdrawal. |
| Muslim Khan said the militants had just crossed from Swat into Buner as "a gesture of solidarity" with local comrades. | Muslim Khan said the militants had just crossed from Swat into Buner as "a gesture of solidarity" with local comrades. |
| He said the Taleban would be gone by Saturday but denied that the militants were leaving due to pressure from the government or under any deal. | He said the Taleban would be gone by Saturday but denied that the militants were leaving due to pressure from the government or under any deal. |
| Those who went to Buner, they must get out from Buner Iftikhar Hussain, NWFP spokesman Disarray on Taleban | Those who went to Buner, they must get out from Buner Iftikhar Hussain, NWFP spokesman Disarray on Taleban |
| But the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says circumstances suggest the militants are now under pressure and that a national consensus is building among the public and political parties that they must be challenged with force. | But the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says circumstances suggest the militants are now under pressure and that a national consensus is building among the public and political parties that they must be challenged with force. |
| Pakistan's government has clearly stated that unless the Taleban lay down their arms, other options will be considered. | Pakistan's government has clearly stated that unless the Taleban lay down their arms, other options will be considered. |
| Pakistan's chief of army staff Gen Ashfaq Kayani rejected criticism of army inaction in Malakand. | Pakistan's chief of army staff Gen Ashfaq Kayani rejected criticism of army inaction in Malakand. |
| "The operational pause, meant to give the reconciliatory forces a chance, must not be taken for a concession to the militants," he said. | "The operational pause, meant to give the reconciliatory forces a chance, must not be taken for a concession to the militants," he said. |
| Sympathy for the militant movement has been on the decline, our correspondent says, since the airing of footage showing a young girl being flogged as a punishment in Swat. | Sympathy for the militant movement has been on the decline, our correspondent says, since the airing of footage showing a young girl being flogged as a punishment in Swat. |
| Although the Taleban denied ordering the punishment, their public standing has plummeted. | Although the Taleban denied ordering the punishment, their public standing has plummeted. |
| US Defence Secretary Robert Gates warns of the Taleban threat to Pakistan | US Defence Secretary Robert Gates warns of the Taleban threat to Pakistan |
| At least 10 more paramilitary platoons totalling about 200 men have now arrived in Buner to take control of government buildings. | At least 10 more paramilitary platoons totalling about 200 men have now arrived in Buner to take control of government buildings. |
| The latest moves followed a meeting of government officials in North West Frontier Province to discuss the faltering peace deal. | The latest moves followed a meeting of government officials in North West Frontier Province to discuss the faltering peace deal. |
| Ahead of the meeting provincial spokesman Iftikhar Hussain had said: "Those who took arms must lay them down. Those who went to Buner, they must get out from Buner. | Ahead of the meeting provincial spokesman Iftikhar Hussain had said: "Those who took arms must lay them down. Those who went to Buner, they must get out from Buner. |
| "This is the only way, and we are asking them for the last time." | "This is the only way, and we are asking them for the last time." |
| The Taleban had been expected to lay down their arms under the peace deal and allow police and other officials to resume their duties. | The Taleban had been expected to lay down their arms under the peace deal and allow police and other officials to resume their duties. |
| However, the Taleban had further consolidated their hold on Buner. | However, the Taleban had further consolidated their hold on Buner. |
| On Wednesday they ambushed a paramilitary convoy at the border village of Totalai and prevented it from reaching Buner's central town of Dagar. | On Wednesday they ambushed a paramilitary convoy at the border village of Totalai and prevented it from reaching Buner's central town of Dagar. |
| The US had expressed deep concern over the developments. | The US had expressed deep concern over the developments. |
| On Wednesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Pakistan posed a "mortal threat" to the world by abdicating to the Taleban. | On Wednesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Pakistan posed a "mortal threat" to the world by abdicating to the Taleban. |
| On Thursday US Defence Secretary Robert Gates warned Pakistan that relations with the US would be threatened unless Islamabad combated the rise of the Taleban. | On Thursday US Defence Secretary Robert Gates warned Pakistan that relations with the US would be threatened unless Islamabad combated the rise of the Taleban. |
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