Pakistan School Hostages Released

Gunmen released dozens of child hostages from a school in north-west Pakistan yesterday after a car chase, a shootout with police and a five-hour siege.

The six armed men stormed into the school near Bannu, on the edge of troubled North Waziristan tribal agency, after kidnapping a government health official and his driver in a nearby town.

As security forces surrounded the school, tribal elders negotiated to prevent the gunmen acting on a threat to kill their captives. Five hours later all walked free after a deal in which the gunmen were allowed to flee unhindered.

The government initially claimed 250 children were involved but the local police chief later put the figure at 25 students and seven teachers.

A seventh gunmen was killed in an initial firefight with police. President Pervez Musharraf, who was in London, described them as Islamist extremists but other government officials said they were part of a criminal gang.

The kidnapped health worker and his driver were released unharmed.

It was the latest drama to shake Frontier province, where law and order has been rapidly crumbling under a violent offensive by pro-Taliban militants.

Last weekend a major battle erupted at Darra Adam Khel, just 12 miles from Peshawar, when militants captured four army supply trucks. Heavy fighting including shelling sent hundreds of residents fleeing and caused the temporary closure of the Indus highway, a major trade route.

At least 150 militants and 20 soldiers have died in fighting in South Waziristan this month, where the army is conducting a major operation against Baitullah Mehsud, the tribal commander who is accused of organising the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in December.