国际英语新闻:260 militants give up fighting in N. Afghanistan

AYBAK, Afghanistan, July 19 (Xinhua) -- A total of 260 Taliban militants gave up fighting in the northern Samangan province and handed over their weapons to local authorities on Tuesday, provincial police chief Mohammad Baqir Masoud said.

"A total of 260 Taliban fighters including three key commanders namely Mullah Faisal, Raes Ibrahim and Mullah Almas in a ceremony held in Dara-e-Suf Payan district surrendered to government and handed in their weapons to police," Baqir Masoud told Xinhua.

In the ceremony attended among others by ranking civil and military officials, commanders of the former rebels vowed to defend peace and security from now on.

The former militants were active against government over the past couple of years, the official said, adding with surrendering these people to government, peace and security will be further improved in Samangan and the northern region at large.

Army spokesman Nasratullah Jamshidi also confirmed surrendering of countless militants in Samangan province on Tuesday.

Taliban militants are yet to make comment on the report.