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Pakistan child hostage drama ends | Pakistan child hostage drama ends |
(40 minutes later) | |
A group of armed men have released about 250 schoolchildren and teachers they were holding hostage in north-west Pakistan, government officials 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. |
The group of about seven armed men gave themselves up to tribal elders, who were conducting negotiations. | The group of about seven armed men gave themselves up to tribal elders, who were conducting negotiations. |
No children were hurt during the incident, the officials said. | No children were hurt during the incident, the officials said. |
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said that the hostage-taking was a "desperate act" by "extremists". | |
He vowed to crack down on militants in the area, which is known for Islamist activity. | |
Refused | Refused |
"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. | "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. |
Mr Musharraf said it had not been their intention to seize children. | |
"They didn't go really to take the children as hostage," he said during a visit to London. | |
"It was incidental that they entered the school to hide themselves. But in the process to hide they took those students hostage." | |
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. |