Pakistan Extends Deadline for Al-Qaida Fugitives to Take Up Amnesty or Fac

Pakistan Extends Deadline for Al-Qaida Fugitives to Take Up Amnesty or Face Military Action

WANA, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan extended a deadline for suspected al-Qaida fugitives hiding in a lawless tribal region near Afghanistan to accept an amnesty offer or face possible military action, an official said Saturday.

The government originally gave foreign militants in the South Waziristan tribal region until Friday to turn themselves in, but none came forward.

After talks Saturday with local tribal leaders, Asmatullah Gandapur, the region's top administrator, said the deadline has been pushed back until Monday to give more time to resolve differences over how foreigners should register with the government. He did not elaborate.

Last month, Pakistan offered to let all foreigners except al-Qaida and Taliban leaders settle in the tribal regions if they lay down arms, agree to respect Pakistani laws and register with the authorities.

But none of the hundreds of foreigners - among them Arabs, Afghans and Central Asians - have taken up the offer. The deadline for them to surrender has repeatedly been pushed back to avoid bloodshed. A military counterterrorism operation in South Waziristan in March left at least 120 people dead.

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