MIRAMSHAH, Aug 30: Military authorities on Monday handed over in Rawalpindi bodies of three 'militants' to tribesmen of North Waziristan.

The bodies of Munirullah Borakhel Wazir, Ahmad Hassan Dawar and Azam Khan Borakhel Wazir , were taken to Mirali sub-divisin in North Waziristan for burial.

Eyewitnesses said that a large number of people, including students of seminaries, attended the funeral prayers held in Nourak Madressah in Mirali, some 15km east of Miramshah.

Four persons were killed and two were captured when security forces conducted a raid on a compound in Bangi Dar area of North Waziristan on Aug 23. The dead were then shifted to Rawalpindi.

Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan, the army spokesman, said that three of the four 'militants' were foreigners. However, tribesmen rejected the claim, saying that those killed in the attack were their fellow tribesmen. They demanded that the authorities hand over bodies to them.

A delegation of tribal elders and ulema visited Rawalpindi and held talks with the military authorities to get possession of the bodies. Sources quoting the tribal elders said that they could not ascertain the identity of the fourth victim in the mortuary. The elders and ulema have announced that they would observe a strike in North Waziristan on Tuesday against the killing of tribesmen.