PARACHINAR, Dec 20: After hectic efforts by a jirga, a temporary truce has been reached between rival factions in the Kurram Agency for ten days, according to officials.

Announcements were made from mosques here and in other parts of the restive tribal region that a traditional Tiga (a firm commitment by the rival groups under the unwritten Pukhtunwali code) has been placed for ten days, asking combatants to cease fire and vacate positions immediately.

The NWFP Governor Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai had constituted a 16-member peace jirga to broker ceasefire between the warring factions in the area.

Clashes broke out in the agency on Nov 16, leaving over 150 people dead and wounding more than 300.

Under the agreement, the officials said, if any group violated the ceasefire it will pay Rs15 million in fine to the government.

All the roads in the agency would remain open for traffic and security forces would continue patrolling.

The sources said that Parachinar remained peaceful on Thursday.

The elders have formed peace committees to assist the law enforcing agencies in maintaining law and order.