http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090817/wl_sthasia_afp/pakistanunrestsouthwest_20090817171117
QUETTA, Pakistan (AFP) The bodies of nine policemen taken hostage last month by separatist rebels were discovered in Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province on Monday, a police official said.
The corpses were found in the area of Naseerabad, 390 kilometres (242 miles) southeast of Quetta, the provincial capital, said senior local police officer Kaleem Ullah.
The police officers were thought to have been killed about four days ago.
The rebels took 24 police and labourers hostage in the area in late July. Three policemen escaped and 12 other bodies have already been found.
"We have recovered nine dead bodies of policemen. They were kidnapped by the Baluchistan Republican Army," said Ullah.
Sarbaz Baloch, a spokesman for the separatists, had earlier this month claimed responsibility for the kidnappings and deaths in a telephone call to reporters in Quetta. He demanded that security forces leave the city.
