Pakistan officials say that the Taliban have finally delivered the body of Piotr Stanczak, beheaded in the Atock province of Pakistan in February.

The body  - expected to be delivered to the Polish embassy in Islamabad this morning - was handed over contained in a casket in Razmak, located about 40 miles south of Miranshah, northwest Pakistan.

A deal between the insurgents and the Pakistani government was agreed late last week for the release of the Polish geologist. Sources told the Pakistani The News International daily that the Taliban commander Tariq agreed with the government in Islamabad to return the body as a swap for the release of prisoners.

DNA tests will be performed on the body to determine whether it is Stanczak, a Polish geologist working for the Geofizyka mining exploration company, based in Krakow, southern Poland. Reports suggested last night that the remains have been preserved in some way and identification will not be difficult.

Stanczak was kidnapped last September when on a field trip in the lawless region of Atock, near the border with Afghanistan. Two Pakistanis, a driver and body guard were immediately killed during the attack. The Taliban then demanded certain conditions for the release of the Pole, including ransom money and political demands.  

Stanczak was eventually beheaded and a video of the murder was released. (pg)