A group of armed men are holding children and teachers hostage in north-west Pakistan.
A group of armed men have released some 250 school children and teachers they were holding hostage in north-west Pakistan, tribal elders say.
Officials told the BBC that up to 250 children were inside the school in the district of Bannu in North West Frontier Province.
The men took the children hostage in the district of Bannu in North West Frontier Province after escaping from police earlier on Monday.
At least five armed men took shelter in the school after a confrontation with local police.
A BBC reporter in the area says the armed men, about five in number, were given safe passage.
Police have surrounded the school. Tribal elders are trying to negotiate the release of the hostages.
The negotiations were conducted by tribal elders.
Refused
Refused
"The police and army have surrounded the school on all sides", Dar Ali Khattak, Bannu's district police chief told the BBC Urdu service.
"The police and army have surrounded the school on all sides", Dar Ali Khattak, Bannu's district police chief told the BBC Urdu service a short while before the hostages were released.
Security is a growing problem in Bannu district
Security is a growing problem in Bannu district
Unconfirmed reports had said that a large number of children had been released, but a BBC reporter at the scene says there is no evidence of this.
Police say the men had kidnapped a health department official from the neighbouring district of Karak on Monday.
Police say the men had kidnapped a health department official from the neighbouring district of Karak on Monday.
They were then challenged by police but refused to stop at a police check post and went on to take over the school in an area called Domial, some 15 km north of Bannu town, the main town in the district.
They were then challenged by police but refused to stop at a police check post and went on to take over the school in an area called Domial, some 15 km north of Bannu town, the main town in the district.
Parents and relatives of the children have gathered outside the school.
Parents and relatives of the children gathered outside the school.
Initial reports said the hostage-takers were Islamist militants but other reports describe them as common criminals.
Initial reports said the hostage-takers were Islamist militants but other reports describe them as common criminals.
Security in and around Bannu has been a growing problem.
Security in and around Bannu has been a growing problem.
Pro-Taleban militants control large areas of neighbouring North and South Waziristan. In recent months they have been increasingly active in Bannu district.
Pro-Taleban militants control large areas of neighbouring North and South Waziristan. In recent months they have been increasingly active in Bannu district.
Last October at least 15 people were killed in Bannu town by a suicide bomber dressed in a burka.
Last October at least 15 people were killed in Bannu town by a suicide bomber dressed in a burka.
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