Quetta, June 6 (Reuters): Threats of suicide attacks by Taliban and al Qaida militants have driven some foreign aid workers to leave their homes and hole up in hotels, police in southwestern Pakistan said today.

Police said they stepped up security for foreign aid agencies in Quetta, capital of the province of Baluchistan bordering Afghanistan, after receiving information of threats to the UN refugee agency and other foreign aid groups.

An official at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it had about six international staff in Quetta who had been moved to a hotel as a precaution. “We have taken precautions in Quetta specially for the international staff as the threat was specifically against the international staff,” he said.

“This is not the first time that such a warning has been issued by the authorities...we don’t know how serious it is but we have taken extra security measures.”

The Pakistan government’s office dealing with Afghan refugees informed six agencies yesterday that Taliban remnants and al Qaida members were planning suicide attacks against the UNHCR and other aid agencies.