Pakistan: Suspected Islamic militants decapitated one of 16 paramilitary soldiers kidnapped last week in northwestern Pakistan, and threatened to kill more captives if authorities do not release rebel prisoners, officials said today.

The body of Laiq Hussain was found today in a soccer field near a military base in Jandola, a town in the South Waziristan tribal region where Al-Qaida and Taliban-linked militants operate, said Latifur Rehman, a security officer in the area. Hussain was among 16 troops who were abducted on Friday near Jandola as they traveled home on vacation.

An intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to make media comments, said a faction of militants in South Waziristan led by Qari Hussain was holding the soldiers and demanding the release of 10 of his supporters who are in government custody.

Rehman said a note in Urdu, Pakistan's main language, was found near Laiq Hussain's body warning that the 15 other hostages would be killed if authorities failed to meet their demand. "If our demands are not met, we will slaughter them one by one," Rehman quoted the message as saying. No one claimed responsibility in the note for abducting the soldiers.

The 10 people Qari Hussain wants released were arrested in different cities, including one in Islamabad, for allegedly planning to carry out suicide bombings, the official said.

Pakistani security forces have fought intense battles in recent years with local and foreign militants in South Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan.