MINGORA PESHAWAR Militants in restive northwest Pakistan said Wednesday they had released 12 students who were kidnapped on suspicion of spying for the government.

The group, aged between 19 and 20 and from the state-run Nazarabad High School in the Matta area of Swat valley, were seized on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the militants, Haji Muslim Khan, told AFP These students were spying for the security forces. We released five students yesterday (Tuesday).

The remaining seven were released today (Wednesday) after their parents personally assured us that these students will not indulge in spying for the security forces.

Local police chief Dilawar Bangash confirmed to AFP that the group had been kidnapped.

Separately, Khan claimed responsibility for killing a police officer in the Cheharbagh area of Swat.

The officers decapitated body was found dumped Wednesday morning. Three other officers who were seized with him four days ago were still being held.

Khan said they would suffer the same fate unless 122 militants were released.