The provincial government in north-west Pakistan has agreed to pull troops out of a valley under a peace agreement signed with pro-Taleban fighters.

- 21 / 05 / 2008 15:35

The authorities say they will also allow the militants to impose Sharia law in Swat in return for promises to close training camps and end attacks.

The deal is the first since a new government came to power promising to negotiate to end violence in the area.

Nato and the US say such deals have helped al-Qaeda and the Taleban.

The senior minister in the North West Frontier provincial government, Bashir Bilour, outlined the 15-point agreement signed in Peshawar.

Mr Bilour said the militants had agreed to stop suicide and bomb attacks on security forces and close down their camps.

They are also expected to hand over any foreign militants in the area and stop obstructing girls' education.

In return, Mr Bilour said the government would make limited concessions on militant demands for the imposition of Islamic law in the region, the Associated Press reports.

The government would also release prisoners as well as "gradually" withdraw troops from Swat.

"We hope this agreement will help bring peace in Swat," said Mr Bilour, who headed the government's negotiating team.

He was speaking to reporters outside the government building in the city where talks had taken place.

AFP