Sweep for al Qaeda

A 2000-man tribal force yesterday hunted for suspected al Qaeda fugitives and their supporters in the remote mountains near the Afghan border, a day before a Pakistani Government deadline for tribal leaders to flush out terrorists or face military action.

The two groups, organised by tribal elders, swept through the lawless territory of South Waziristan where last month the Army killed more than 60 militants and arrested 163 suspects.

Yesterday, officials said a tribal militia had burned down the houses of two tribesmen who sheltered al Qaeda men and had ignored warnings from the elders.