Several children held hostage Monday by armed men in a remote Pakistani school were rescued hours later without being harmed, reports said.Tribal elders in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province took custody of the four or five hostage-takers after securing the release of some 30 children and teachers held captive in a primary school in Bannu district, CNN reported, quoting officials.
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who is touring Europe, had been informed about the incident.
The BBC reported the hostage-takers had entered the school after escaping from a police confrontation over the abduction of a district health official.
The hostage-takers were initially believed to be Islamic militants but were later described as common criminals, although the area has seen growing pro-Taliban activity in recent months. .
The BBC report quoted Musharraf as saying in London: "It was incidental that they entered the school to hide themselves. But in the process to hide they took those students hostage."
A GEO TV report said in the confrontation with police the kidnapped health official was released and that five of the armed men were arrested. Another armed man was reportedly killed in the encounter, while the rest apparently stormed the school.