May 10, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 4, 1429

KHAR, May 9: The Bajaur political administration on Friday launched a crackdown on the Salarzai tribe and arrested over 50 people under the collective responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR).

The administration also impounded 10 vehicles.

The crackdown was launched after militants attacked a convoy of Bajaur Scouts going to Latai Post from Khar and took 20 paramilitary soldiers hostage and snatched two vehicles and weapons from them on Thursday.

Sources said the militants later set the personnel free but did not return the vehicles and weapons.An official said that the operation against the tribe would continue till local people returned the weapons.

Taliban spokesman Maulvi Umar acknowledged that his men had snatched the weapons and vehicles.

He told Dawn on phone that they had freed the hostages after talks with jirga members but retained the weapons and vehicles.

He said that Taliban had presented some conditions to the administration and the vehicles and ammunition would be returned if the conditions were met.

Meanwhile, security forces continued the blockade of the Tank-Wana road in South Waziristan for the second day, our correspondent adds from Tank.

The sources said with the blockade the government was trying to put pressure on Baitullah Mehsud to resume negotiations.