Taliban militants kill scores in northwest Pakistan

Dera Ismail Khan: Taliban militants killed at least 22 pro-government rivals after taking dozens of captives in clashes in Pakistan's volatile northwest, officials said on Wednesday.

Militants loyal to notorious Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud seized the town of Jandola, on the road to the South Waziristan ethnic Pashtun tribal region on the Afghan border, on Monday and captured about 27 rivals from a pro-government tribe.

The abducted men were members of the Bhittani tribe and they belonged to a government-run group promoting peace.

Residents near the town found the bullet-riddled bodies of at least 22 captives early on Wednesday along Tank-Jandola road, a local official said.

A government official said the bodies had been taken to a nearby military camp.