ISLAMABAD, May 22: Pakistan's top military officials demanded Saturday that hundreds of Al Qaeda-linked fighters near the Afghan border surrender or face "elimination" after the government failed for months to control militants in the country's tribal regions.

"They either have to surrender or will be eliminated," the military said in a statement, following a meeting of top army commanders chaired by army chief and President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The tribesmen protecting the militants "will be dealt with severely," it added.

The top-level meeting was called on Friday to discuss efforts to persuade the militants, believed to number between 300 and 600, to surrender and register after the army called off a 12-day offensive against them in late March.

But the fighters, mainly Chechens and Arabs with some Chinese among them, have so far defied orders to undergo a registration process that would involve photographic identification.

"It was decided at the meeting that Pakistan will not compromise on the fight against terrorism and foreign elements hiding in the tribal areas have no place. They either have to surrender or will be eliminated," the military said.

"The participants of the meeting were apprised that tribals are law abiding, peace-loving and loyal Pakistanis, but a handful of those harbouring foreign elements will be dealt with severely."

It did not outline any new deadline for the militants' surrender or indicate when they would be "eliminated."

The NWFP governor, retired general Iftikhar Hussain Shah, briefed Gen Musharraf, deputy army chief general Mohammad Yusaf Khan, regional army commander general Safdar Hussain and senior officials on the situation.-AFP