Alleged US spy shot dead in Pakistani tribal area

MIRANSHAH: Authorities in a Pakistani tribal area found the bullet-riddled body of an alleged US spy on Thursday, officials said, weeks after the government signed a peace deal with local militants.   

A note saying the man was spying for the US-backed government in neighbouring Afghanistan was left with the corpse dumped at a checkpost near Miranshah, the main town in lawless North Waziristan district, they said.   

The unsigned note said that "All US spies will face the same fate" and gave the full name and address of the victim, an Afghan national named as Wazir Khan, a local administration official informed.   

The man's relatives came from over the border in Afghanistan's Khost province and took away the body, he said.   

Suspected militants have killed several tribesmen in the past few months, accusing them of spying for the US-led coalition forces and the Afghan government.   

The latest killing came despite a peace agreement signed earlier this month between the government and tribal elders and militants in North Waziristan, which has caused international concern.   

Under the deal "mujahideen" (holy warriors) pledged to end targeted killings and cross-border attacks into Afghanistan. The authorities said they would free arrested tribesmen and remove new checkpoints.   

The agreement is aimed at ending two years of violence in the semi-autonomous tribal zone of North Waziristan, during which hundreds of people have died in clashes between security forces and Islamic rebels.   

Officials said the amnesty would not apply to wanted Al-Qaeda leaders.