Militants seize 120 police, soldiers in Pakistan

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http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5goT57fbYfTTI3lnZ3GZvujrK3uNQ

Militants seize 120 police, soldiers in Pakistan
3 hours ago

MATTA, Pakistan (AFP) — Islamic militants took 120 police and paramilitary soldiers hostage overnight in northwest Pakistan but released them Saturday after disarming them, a rebel spokesman said.

The men were seized in the town of Matta in the scenic Swat valley in Northwest Frontier Province after militants besieged their post late Friday.

"Around 120 policemen and paramilitary soldiers surrendered after they were surrounded," spokesman Sirajuddin said.

"We released them on Saturday because they agreed to return to their homes and not to fight with Muslim brothers," the spokesman, who goes by one name only, told