A group of armed men have released some 250 schoolchildren and teachers they were holding hostage in north-west Pakistan, tribal elders say.
A group of armed men have released about 250 schoolchildren and teachers they were holding hostage in north-west Pakistan, government officials say.
The men took the children hostage in the district of Bannu in North West Frontier Province after escaping from police earlier on Monday.
The men took the children hostage in the district of Bannu in North West Frontier Province after escaping from police earlier on Monday.
A BBC reporter in the area says the armed men, about five in number, were given safe passage.
The group of about seven armed men gave themselves up to tribal elders, who were conducting negotiations.
The negotiations were conducted by tribal elders.
No children were hurt during the incident, the officials said.
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 a short while before the hostages were released.
"The criminals have surrendered to the jirga [tribal council] along with their weapons. No children have been hurt and all have been released," interior ministry spokesman Javel Iqbal Cheema told local TV.
Security is a growing problem in Bannu district
Security is a growing problem in Bannu district
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 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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