Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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March 30, 2008

Pakistan's Taliban Militants Welcome Talks With New Government
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1BB5A73:A6F02AD83191E1606361678EAA2B46B170AD7039DCD7B7E4& Tehrik-e-Taliban
Pakistan's spokesman says group is ready to cooperate with government
after PM Yousuf Raza Gilani said he is willing to talk to militants
The Pakistani Taliban says it is open to holding talks with the
country's newly elected government.









Yousaf Raza Gilani talks to media upon his arrival at Parliament House
in Islamabad, Pakistan, 24 Mar 2008A spokesman for the militant group
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Maulvi Omar, says the group is ready to
cooperate with the government and bring peace to tribal areas.

However, he urged Pakistani officials to end their cooperation with
U.S.-led forces that are fighting an insurgency in neighboring
Afghanistan.

On Saturday, Pakistan's newly-elected Prime Minister Yousuf Raza
Gilani said that fighting terrorism will be his government's top
priority, but added that he is willing to talk to militants who are
ready to lay down their arms.

Pakistan has suffered from a series of recent attacks blamed on
al-Qaida and Taliban militants operating in the country's tribal
regions.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.




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