Over 40 Taliban surrender in Afghanistan

Kabul, April 26 (IANS) Two groups of Taliban - comprising 33 and 10 rebels - Thursday gave up arms and joined the peace process in Afghanistan, officials said.

The first group of 33 militants surrendered in Deh Salah district of northern Baghlan province, provincial police chief Assadullah Shirzad told Xinhua.

Ten other Taliban militants - led by a commander named Mullah Jandad - surrendered in Adraskan district of western Herat province, provincial governor Daud Sabah said.

The Taliban did not comment.

According to the government, more than 3,000 militants have laid down arms over the past one year.