Pakistani leaders condemn killing of security men

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Dec: 30, IRNA -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf Sunday condemned the brutal killing of 21 security men who had been kidnapped by the Taliban militants in the Northwestern country.

Taliban had kidnapped 22 security men after they attacked two security checkpoints in the outskirts of Peshawar on Thursday.

Taliban had claimed responsibility for the attack and also taking the security men as hostage.

President Zardari and Prime Minister Ashraf said that Taliban violated Islamic principles by killing their hostages. He said the people of Pakistan have now become aware of the inhuman activities of the militants.

Taliban had attacked and abducted the paramilitary soldiers after they launched attacks with rockets and automatic rifles on three security posts on December 27.

The militants murdered 21, but one escaped who later told the authorities about the killing of other hostages. The bodies were found four kilometers away from the place of the attack.

An official Habibullah Arif confirmed that the authorities have recovered the bodies.

He said that the injured security man is in critical condition.

The government had tried to secure release of the kidnapped security men after the kidnapping, but failed.

The incident occurred at a time when Taliban had offered conditional truce with the government. They refused to surrender their arms and weapons.

The government rejected conditional truce and demanded of the Taliban to stop violence first.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 80479819