Mehsud offers conditional talks

LAHORE: Militant commander Baitullah Mehsud has extended a conditional offer to the government to stop his aggressive activities, a private TV channel reported. Geo News quoted official sources as saying that Mehsud has told the government that he could halt terrorist actions if the key commanders and militants arrested by security forces were released. Senator Saleh Shah told the channel on Saturday that Mehsud had authorised him to negotiate with the government, adding that he would discuss the matter with the government at NWFP Governor’s House today (Sunday). Separately, the Interior Ministry did not confirm or deny any such contact between Mehsud and the government. daily times monitor