MIR ALI, June 27: Suspected Al Qaeda linked militants in tribal belt have issued death threats to 28 tribal elders, prayer leaders and social workers accused of spying for the government. Photocopies of a note handwritten in Pashtu were circulated in this village in the North Waziristan district bordering Afghanistan by unidentified people late Sunday, residents said.

It listed the names of 28 people and warns them to get ready to die. Three of them have already survived attempts on their lives.

“These people are spying for government and informing it about the activities of Mujahedeen,” said the unsigned note, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.