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| Militants die in Pakistan strike | Militants die in Pakistan strike |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than a dozen people have been killed in a missile strike in the Pakistani tribal area of South Waziristan, officials have said. | |
| The dead include at least six militants. The missiles struck their hideouts in Baghar village, they said. | |
| Separately, the Pakistani army said more than 150 militants and 13 soldiers had been killed in week-long fighting in the Bajaur tribal region. | Separately, the Pakistani army said more than 150 militants and 13 soldiers had been killed in week-long fighting in the Bajaur tribal region. |
| Security has deteriorated sharply in recent weeks along the frontier. | Security has deteriorated sharply in recent weeks along the frontier. |
| The Afghan government and Nato say that the border region is a haven for al-Qaeda and Taleban militants. | |
| Officials said four missiles hit a compound, occupied by local Taleban, in Baghar late on Tuesday. | |
| Witnesses told the BBC Urdu Service that some foreigners were among the dead. | |
| It remains unclear who fired the missiles, and from where they were fired, but witnesses said some Pakistani helicopters were seen hovering over the area soon after the strikes. | |
| Fierce clashes | Fierce clashes |
| Separately, the militants in the troubled Bajaur tribal region disputed the Pakistani army's claim that more than 150 of their fighters had been killed in a week of heavy fighting in the area. | Separately, the militants in the troubled Bajaur tribal region disputed the Pakistani army's claim that more than 150 of their fighters had been killed in a week of heavy fighting in the area. |
| A spokesman for the local Taleban said about a dozen of their fighters had died. | A spokesman for the local Taleban said about a dozen of their fighters had died. |
| More than 30 civilians have died in the fighting in Bajaur, reports say. | More than 30 civilians have died in the fighting in Bajaur, reports say. |
| Fierce clashes between the troops and the Taleban broke out more than a week ago when the government forces tried to set up a post at a strategic location in Loi Sam, on the Afghan border. | Fierce clashes between the troops and the Taleban broke out more than a week ago when the government forces tried to set up a post at a strategic location in Loi Sam, on the Afghan border. |
| The troops had to retreat to Bajaur's administrative and military headquarters, Khar, after the local Taleban intensified their attacks. | The troops had to retreat to Bajaur's administrative and military headquarters, Khar, after the local Taleban intensified their attacks. |
| During the past couple of days, the militants established several positions between Loi Sam and Khar, and laid siege to Khar itself, provoking heavy attacks from the government forces. | During the past couple of days, the militants established several positions between Loi Sam and Khar, and laid siege to Khar itself, provoking heavy attacks from the government forces. |
| The militants then left positions in the Loi Sam and Khar areas of Bajaur following heavy shelling and air raids by the government forces. | The militants then left positions in the Loi Sam and Khar areas of Bajaur following heavy shelling and air raids by the government forces. |
| Militant spokesman Maulvi Omar told the BBC Urdu service: "Since we have succeeded in stopping the advance of the government troops, the occupation of those positions is not required." | Militant spokesman Maulvi Omar told the BBC Urdu service: "Since we have succeeded in stopping the advance of the government troops, the occupation of those positions is not required." |
| Meanwhile, pamphlets dropped by government helicopters in various areas around Khar have urged local people to evict militants from their areas. | Meanwhile, pamphlets dropped by government helicopters in various areas around Khar have urged local people to evict militants from their areas. |
| There is mounting US pressure on the Pakistani government to crack down on militants, who use the border region to launch cross-border raids into Afghanistan. | There is mounting US pressure on the Pakistani government to crack down on militants, who use the border region to launch cross-border raids into Afghanistan. |