Authorities on Saturday slapped a curfew on parts of South Waziristan where troops are preparing to launch an offensive, officials said. The indefinite curfew was imposed from 7:00 am in the district of Wana, the main town in the vast and lawless region, as well as in Shakai and Tiarza, military and local officials told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Local residents said announcements were made over public address systems and from mosques. Witnesses said it was the first time authorities had imposed a curfew in Wana, leaving residents confused. People were still in bazaars and markets of Wana two hours after the curfew formally began. Mobile telephone networks were later jammed, residents said.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2009