Jan. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Tribal leaders in the South Waziristan region of northwestern Pakistan handed over 16 men accused of sheltering al-Qaeda and Taliban fugitives, the Iranian news agency, IRNA, reported from the region.

The elders were responding to a deadline set by the local government to hand over 56 people wanted for helping suspected fugitives from the U.S.-led war on terrorism in neighboring Afghanistan, IRNA said, citing reports yesterday in South Waziristan. The local government may extend the deadline, IRNA said, without saying where it obtained the information.

Pakistan's army last week began an operation aimed at finding international fighters hiding in the semi-autonomous tribal region. The army began search operations last year, the first time the military was deployed in the area since independence in 1947.

At least 18 suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters were killed during an army sweep in South Waziristan in October. The Pakistani military command said last month those killed included Hasan Mahsum, identified by China as a leader of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, which is fighting in the northwestern Chinese province of Xinjiang. China's government says rebel groups in the province are linked to al-Qaeda.

(IRNA 1-16)

For the IRNA Web site, see {IRNA <GO>}.

Last Updated: January 15, 2004 17:52 EST