Abductors of UNHCR official John Solecki on March 16 threatened to kill him within 48 hours if the Government did not free more than 1,100 Baloch prisoners allegedly held in custody. Solecki, head of the UNHCR in Balochistan, was abducted at gunpoint from provincial capital Quetta on February 2. His driver was killed during the abduction. A spokesman for the Balochistan Liberation United Front urged the UN to fulfill its demands within 48 hours1.

• 1. “UN official’s abductors set new 48-hour deadline,” South Asia Terrorism Portal, March 17, 2009, at http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news.asp?date1=3/17/2009#7