Report: Taliban kill 28 tribesmen

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 25 (UPI) -- Taliban militants in Pakistan's north-west region have been blamed for the killings of 28 of the 30 tribesmen abducted two days ago.

The victims, members of the Bhittani tribe, were involved in a peace effort in the South Waziristan region when they were kidnapped Monday from the Kariwam-Jandola area, Pakistan's state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported Wednesday.

The victims had been accused of being supporters of Pakistan's security forces in the area, the report said. Their bullet riddled bodies were dumped in the Kariwam village, the report said. The fate of the other two abductees wasn't known.

The news agency report said the political administration in South Waziristan didn't confirm or deny the killings. It said Bhittani tribal elders, however, confirmed receiving the 28 bodies and announced the the meeting has been put off.

The BBC quoted authorities that the kidnappings were led by those loyal to Baitullah Mehsud, the region's Taliban leader. There have been a number of clashes between the two sides.

With the worsening violence in the region, which is close to the border with Afghanistan, the new ruling coalition in Pakistan has been trying negotiations as an alternative. But that has drawn criticism from the NATO-led and Afghan forces across the border, who say it will only lead to escalation of the cross-border insurgency.