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Abducted Pakistani men found dead Pakistan Taleban 'kill 22 rivals'
(about 1 hour later)
Authorities in north-west Pakistan say they have found bodies of 22 tribesmen who were kidnapped by the local Taleban on Monday. Authorities in north-west Pakistan say they have found the bodies of 22 tribesmen who were kidnapped by local Taleban militants on Monday.
The men were abducted from Jandola town in South Waziristan district by militants loyal to Pakistan's top Taleban leader Baitullah Mehsud. The men were seized in South Waziristan tribal area by fighters loyal to top Taleban leader, Baitullah Mehsud.
The men belonged to Bhittani tribe and were considered friendly to the government, officials said. They belonged to a rival tribe considered by some to be friendly to the government, officials said.
Taleban militants had overran Jandola and abducted at least 30 tribesmen. The inter-tribal conflict follows a massive army operation against the Taleban in South Waziristan.
Jandola is an important garrison town in the area, where the Taleban have a strong presence. The government is now trying to end the violence through negotiations.
The clashes between the two groups erupted on Monday and left at least 12 people dead, including eight militants, two women and two children. This has prompted protests from Nato and Afghan forces, who fear a strengthened Taleban insurgency across the border in Afghanistan.
'Bullet-riddled bodies''Bullet-riddled bodies'
The head of Jandola administration, Barkatullah, told the BBC that 22 of the 30 members of the pro-government group who were kidnapped on Monday have been killed by their captors. The tribesmen were among at least 30 kidnapped by Taleban militants who overran the town of Jandola on Monday.
Jandola is an important garrison town in South Waziristan, where the Taleban have a strong presence.
Clashes between the two rival groups on Monday left at least 12 people dead on both sides, including eight militants, two women and two children.
The head of the Jandola administration, Barkatullah, told the BBC that 22 of the 30 members of the Bhittani tribe who were kidnapped on Monday had been killed by their captors.
"The villagers found their bullet-riddled bodies dumped in a ravine in Jandola region," he said."The villagers found their bullet-riddled bodies dumped in a ravine in Jandola region," he said.
The militants have now pulled out of the town, fearing reprisal attacks by the military, he added. Taleban militants had now pulled out of the town, fearing reprisal attacks by the military, he added.
The dead include fighters of the Niamatkhel branch of Bhittani tribe that dominates Jandola tribal territory and the neighbouring Tank region of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The dead include fighters of the Niamatkhel branch of the Bhittani tribe that dominates Jandola tribal territory and the neighbouring Tank region of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
It has the backing of the government forces, and has been challenging the influence of Baitullah Mehsud's fighters in the area. BBC correspondents say the tribe has the backing of government forces, and has been challenging the influence of Baitullah Mehsud's fighters in the area.
Some observers say the Bhittanis cooperated with the army against the Mehsuds, and the Taleban attack on Jandola was in revenge. Some observers say the Bhittanis co-operated with the army against the Mehsuds, and the Taleban attack on Jandola was in revenge.
But one security official said the trigger was more specific - he said the Bhittanis were stopping Mehsud's vehicles passing through their territory, and insisting that even the women be checked - a taboo in the deeply conservative tribal culture, reports the BBC's Barbara Plett from Islamabad. But one security official said the trigger was more specific. He said the Bhittanis had been stopping Mehsud vehicles passing through their territory, and insisting that even the women be checked - a taboo in the deeply conservative tribal culture.
The army has a base in Jandola and moved troops into offensive positions during the fighting.The army has a base in Jandola and moved troops into offensive positions during the fighting.
But the Mehsuds have since withdrawn and the incident is not expected to affect ongoing peace talks between the government and the tribe, our correspondent says. But the Mehsuds have since withdrawn and the incident is not expected to affect peace talks between them and the government, the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says.
A joint jirga, or tribal council, of the two tribes, constituted by the administration on Tuesday, "is talking to both groups in order to prevent further escalation", Mr Barkatullah said. A joint jirga, or council, of the two tribes "is talking to both groups in order to prevent further escalation", Mr Barkatullah said.
Meanwhile, security forces continue to block the main road connecting the region with the rest of the country, officials and witnesses say.Meanwhile, security forces continue to block the main road connecting the region with the rest of the country, officials and witnesses say.
The road was closed to traffic on Tuesday in the wake of Jandola's fall to pro-Mehsud militants.The road was closed to traffic on Tuesday in the wake of Jandola's fall to pro-Mehsud militants.
It is meant to put pressure on Baitullah Mehsud group and to keep the field clear for an operation if hostilities escalate, security officials said. The move is meant to put pressure on the Baitullah Mehsud group and to keep the field clear for an operation if hostilities escalate, security officials said.