UN body quits Balochistan

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees' spokesman told BBC Urdu the decision followed threats made by a Baloch nationalist group.

It has accused the UN of reneging on a deal in April that resulted in the release of a kidnapped UN official.

The UN helps to look 1.8 million Afghan refugees in the neighbouring provinces.

Correspondents say that locally appointed government staff will have to take the place of UN workers.

The UN said it was suspending its services after receiving threats from the Balochistan Liberation United Front (BLUF).

The previously unknown group is said to have accused the UN of welching on a deal reached in April that resulted in the release of an American UNHCR worker after two months as a hostage.

John Solecki was snatched at gunpoint in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, on 2 February. His driver was killed.

Militants from the BLUF took responsibility for the abduction and released him on "humanitarian grounds".

The group had demanded the release of thousands of prisoners it claimed were being held by the government. It now says that pledge has not been fulfilled.