Friday, July 22 2005 19:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: In a major retaliatory attack, suspected al-Qaeda militants gunned down nine tribal elders and associates in Pakistan's troubled North Waziristan region bordering Afghanistan for allegedly backing the Army's drive to weed out foreign militants from Islamabad.

In one incident, Mallik Mirza Alam, an influential tribal leader, was gunned down along with four of his relatives and associates today (July 22, 2005), Local TV reports in Islamabad said.

Assailants sprayed Alam's vehicle with bullets near Wana in the region where Pakistan Army has deployed several thousand troops to flush out the al-Qaeda suspects who have taken shelter there. Besides Alam, two of his brothers, a son and an associate were killed.

One more tribal leader, Malik Khandan, as well as his son and a companion were gunned down elsewhere in the region today, according to media reports.

Another pro-Government tribal elder, Taj Mohammad, was shot dead by suspected militants yesterday, reports said.

Over 20 tribal elders who have agreed to cooperate with the Government to help weed out the militants have been killed in the region in an apparent campaign by the militants to spread terror among the local population.

Today's attacks followed yesterday's meeting of North West Frontier Province Governor Khalilur Rehman with a delegation of elders from tribal North Waziristan, which sought their help to spot foreign terrorists.