Islamabad  - A separatist group, which has been holding a United Nations official for the last two months in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, said Saturday it had freed the captive on "humanitarian grounds."

UN authorities in the capital city Islamabad confirmed the release to the German Press Agency dpa saying John Solecki was "tired, otherwise well."

John Solecki, the regional head of the UN refugee agency in Balochistan, was kidnapped by armed men when he was on his way to work in the provincial capital Quetta on February 2. His Pakistani driver was killed in the attack.

The hitherto unknown rebel group, the Balochistan Liberation United Front (BLUF), claimed it had Solecki in captivity and issued a list of demands, focusing on the release of Baloch people believed to have been detained by the law enforcement agencies.

"BLUF has released the kidnapped UN employee on humanitarian grounds," group spokesman Shehek Baloch told the Pakistani Online newswire by phone from an undisclosed location on Saturday.

"He has been released to give a message to the UN and the world community that Balochs are not terrorists, rather they are a civilized nation," Online quoted the BLUF spokesman as saying.

Baloch said Solecki, a US citizen, had been dropped off at the Mecca hotel in Khad Koocha area, near the town of Mastung, located some 50 kilometres south of Quetta.

"He (Solecki) is ill, but the health problems can be treated," according to Baloch.

A senior police official in Quetta, Wazir Khan Nasir, said Solecki had been found. "He is with the police now," he added.

A UN spokesperson in Islamabad Jennifer Tagonis confirmed the release to dpa.

"Yes, I can confirm he has been released. We have a UN team with him right now," she said. "He is tired, otherwise well," she added.

BLUF's last deadline for acceptance of demands - release of 1,109 men and 141 women - expired on March 18.

Though the government had announced that it was working on the demands, it was not immediately clear whether any Baloch prisoners were freed.

Balochistan's Chief Minister Aslam Raisani on Thursday had expressed optimism about Solecki's release.

Baloch nationalists have struggled for years for greater share of the province's oil and gas wealth and more autonomy for the region.

The nationalists started an armed campaign in 2005 when the government of President Pervez Musharraf launched a military operation to quell the rebellion. The insurgency has claimed hundreds of lives and several power and communication installations destroyed or damaged.

Recently, some extremist groups, like BLUF, have gone a step further to demand a complete separation of the region from Pakistan.

"We want to bring to the attention of UN Secretary General Ban Ki- moon that Pakistan has enslaved Balochistan politically, culturally and socially," Shehek said on February 7 while claiming responsibility for Solecki's capture. (dpa)