06 June 2004	Sunday	17 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

GILGIT, June 5: The Northern Areas administration on Saturday safely evacuated at least 93 foreign tourists, including four German diplomats, stranded in Hunza and Gilgit.

The foreigners have been sent to Jaglote from where they would be transported to Rawalpindi.

Region Home Secretary Saeed Ahmed Khan told reporters on Saturday that they had made fool-proof security arrangements for the foreigners by providing them police escorts on the Karakoram Highway from Karimabad, Hunza to Jaglote.

Mr Khan said curfew had left them stranded in Hunza and Gilgit.

The home secretary said that in the next phase, local tourists would be evacuated to safer areas as essentials were running out in hotels.