Islamabad: Pakistan military today (Jan 10,2004) set a 48-hour deadline to tribal leaders in the mountainous region near the border with Afghanistan to surrender al-Qaeda terror suspects or face military action.

Brigadier Mehmood Shah, secretary of the Tribal Areas, gave the deadline after addressing local tribal elders in South Waziristan on the fourth day of operation against al-Qaeda suspects.

"The tribal elders will respond to the deadline on Monday (Jan 12,2004)," Shah said.

He said the operation will continue and the authorities will use various options to capture the suspects.

Reports said that the authorities have arrested some people in the area, who are suspected of giving shelter to foreigners.

Shah said yesterday (Jan 10,2004), that the operation is targeting three compounds in Kalosha, a tiny village near the town of Azam Warsak, where 15-20 foreign suspects are believed to have taken refuge.

Authorities were also looking for three Pakistanis - Naik Mohammed, Sherdil, and Sharif Khan believed to own the dwellings.