| Authorities along the Afghan border have taken 94 tribesmen into custody and were negotiating with tribal elders for the surrender of seven people wanted for sheltering Al Qaeda suspects. The crackdown was launched early this month in South Waziristan. On October 2, eight suspected Al Qaeda fighters were killed and 18 others captured in a raid by Army troops. Two soldiers also were killed. Ahmad Said al-Khadr, an Egyptian-Canadian dual national and suspected Al Qaeda financier, was believed to have fled the area during the gun battle. Authorities began closing down businesses belonging to members of three tribes to pressure them to surrender the men who sheltered the Al Qaeda gunmen in their homes. A deadline for their surrender expired on October 7. Stepping up the pressure, 19 tribesmen were detained in the past two days, bringing the total number in custody from three tribes to 94. The administration in the tribal regions has the authority to arrest an entire tribe, if any of its members break the law under the so-called code of âcollective responsibilityâ. Such actions can continue until the wanted men surrender. |