Pakistani leaders plan talks with militants

WASHINGTON, The leaders of the newly-formed coalition government in Pakistan intend to start negotiations with Islamic militants in the hope of ending a spate of bombings that has shaken the country, The New York Times reported on its website late Friday.

The newspaper said the leaders of the ruling coalition - Asif Ali Zardari of the Pakistan People's Party and Nawaz Sharif, head of the Pakistan Muslim League-N - said in interviews that they will use military force only as a last resort.

(AFP)