Taliban militants release hostages

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Taliban militants in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal region on Saturday released eight hostages who were kidnapped over a year ago.

The eight hostages were kidnapped on August 15, 2012, as they were traveling from the Gomal Zam Dam project, where they all worked, to Tank, Dawn News reported.

The illegal Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan released a video of the abducted workers about a month after they disappeared in which the workers are heard pleading to the government to fulfill the militants' demands.

A Taliban spokesman said the workers were released as a "goodwill gesture" from the militants following successful negotiations with tribal councils.