35 militants sign peace deal with Pakistan

The agreement, brokered by local religious leaders and tribal elders, came two months after a bloody operation by Pakistani troops in the North Waziristan region on the Afghan border, a senior official said.

The 35 rebels, who had gone underground, appeared before the local administration at a ceremony held in the region's main town Miranshah on Monday, local administration chief Zaheer-ul Islam said.

"They gave an undertaking that they would not shelter any foreign militants in the area," he told reporters. The tribal and religious chiefs guaranteed to hand over the rebels if they violated the accord, he added.

"We are happy that they agreed to live in peace and shun anti-state activities," Islam added.

Pakistan, a key ally in the US "war on terror", has launched several offensives against insurgents with alleged links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.