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Swat residents flee their homes Swat residents 'flee their homes'
(10 minutes later)
Hundreds of residents in Pakistan's Swat Valley are fleeing their homes as a peace deal between the army and the Taleban appears close to collapse. Residents of Pakistan's Swat Valley are reported to be fleeing their homes despite authorities rescinding an earlier order for them to leave.
Officials say up to 500,000 people are expected to flee and authorities are preparing six refugee camps for them. A peace deal between the government and Taleban militants in the region appears close to collapse after the army said militants attacked police checkpoints.
There have been clashes between the army and militants in Swat and heavy battles in neighbouring districts. There has also been heavy fighting to the west and east of Swat.
A major army operation against the Taleban in Swat Valley appears likely, says the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan. A major army operation against the Taleban appears likely within a few days, says the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan.
Our Islamabad correspondent says the army seems in an uncompromising mood, with the renewed violence apparently the death knell for the peace deal, which has held since February.Our Islamabad correspondent says the army seems in an uncompromising mood, with the renewed violence apparently the death knell for the peace deal, which has held since February.
See a map of the region See a map of the region
In other violence, a suicide bomber killed four security personnel near Peshawar, North West Frontier Province.In other violence, a suicide bomber killed four security personnel near Peshawar, North West Frontier Province.
Police said the attacker rammed an explosive-laden car into a military vehicle.Police said the attacker rammed an explosive-laden car into a military vehicle.
It is not yet known who is behind the attack, but Taleban militants are known to be active in the province.It is not yet known who is behind the attack, but Taleban militants are known to be active in the province.
PatrolsPatrols
Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Information Minister for North-West Frontier Province where Swat is located, said up to half-a-million people were expected to flee. He said authorities were releasing emergency funds and preparing six new refugee camps to house them. Pakistani Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the government was preparing six camps to cater for up to 500,000 people fleeing fighting in the region, AP news agency reported.
Thousands of refugees have already fled neighbouring regions where the army has been trying to stop Taleban fighters from gaining territory. The town of Dargai, near the Swat border, is reported to be where at least one camp is being built.
Armed Taleban fighters have been openly patrolling, the army says Syed Shoaib HasanBBC News, Islamabad Pakistan's security forces are now poised to storm into the Swat district in a showdown which will end any chances of peace in the near future.
A Pakistani military spokesman, Maj-Gen Athar Abbas, told the BBC the Taleban had violated all the norms of the peace deal in Swat Valley. This operation is being seen as pivotal in the struggle against the Taleban.
If it fails, Swat could turn into an even bigger safe haven for militants and al-Qaeda than the tribal areas.
A Pakistani military spokesman, Maj Gen Athar Abbas, told the BBC the Taleban had violated all the norms of the peace deal in Swat Valley.
He said the Taleban had sent out armed patrols and had gone into the neighbouring Dir and Buner districts.He said the Taleban had sent out armed patrols and had gone into the neighbouring Dir and Buner districts.
The army says militants attacked checkpoints and bases in four different locations in Swat, and that armed militants are openly patrolling the streets of the district's main city Mingora.The army says militants attacked checkpoints and bases in four different locations in Swat, and that armed militants are openly patrolling the streets of the district's main city Mingora.
Witnesses in Mingora say that black-turbaned militants are virtually in control of the city, with fighters deployed on most streets and on high buildings. Security forces are barricaded in their bases, according to reports. A witness in Mingora told AP that black-turbaned militants were deployed on most streets and on high buildings, and that security forces were barricaded in their bases.
Khushal Khan, district co-ordination officer in Swat, told the BBC that residents of areas around Mingora had been told to evacuate because there was a fear that the Taleban could use heavy weapons to attack security forces.Khushal Khan, district co-ordination officer in Swat, told the BBC that residents of areas around Mingora had been told to evacuate because there was a fear that the Taleban could use heavy weapons to attack security forces.
But he said the order was later rescinded when the attacks no longer seemed likely.But he said the order was later rescinded when the attacks no longer seemed likely.
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A UN camp shelters people displaced by the fighting in the north-west regionA UN camp shelters people displaced by the fighting in the north-west region
However, reports say residents are fleeing in their hundreds anyway, taking advantage of the government's lifting of a curfew.However, reports say residents are fleeing in their hundreds anyway, taking advantage of the government's lifting of a curfew.
Taleban spokesman Muslim Khan said that the militants were in control of "90%" of the valley.Taleban spokesman Muslim Khan said that the militants were in control of "90%" of the valley.
He told AP news agency that Taleban actions were in response to the army violating the peace deal. He said the peace deal had "been dead" since the army's recent offensive in neighbouring Buner district. He told AP that Taleban actions were in response to the army violating the peace deal. He said the peace deal had "been dead" since the army's recent offensive in neighbouring Buner district.
"Everything will be OK once our rulers stop bowing before America," he said."Everything will be OK once our rulers stop bowing before America," he said.
Washington talksWashington talks
The deteriorating situation in Pakistan's north-west came as President Asif Ali Zardari was preparing for talks in Washington on Wednesday. The deteriorating situation in Pakistan's north-west came as President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai were preparing for talks in Washington on Wednesday.
Analysts say US President Barack Obama will seek assurances from Mr Zardari that his country's nuclear arsenal is safe from Taleban insurgents and that Pakistan intended to root-out militant groups and defeat them.Analysts say US President Barack Obama will seek assurances from Mr Zardari that his country's nuclear arsenal is safe from Taleban insurgents and that Pakistan intended to root-out militant groups and defeat them.
Militants fought the army in the region from August 2007 until this year's deal. Following bilateral discussions, the three leaders will come together for talks in what Washington's envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, called "unprecedented trilateral co-operation".
Mr Holbrooke told the foreign affairs committee at the House of Representatives that the US must provide "unambiguous" support to a democratic Pakistan headed by Mr Zardari.
Militants fought the army in Pakistan's north-west from August 2007 until this year's deal.
Under the deal the Taleban were expected to disarm.Under the deal the Taleban were expected to disarm.
The Taleban say they will not lay down their arms until Islamic Sharia law is fully implemented in Swat.The Taleban say they will not lay down their arms until Islamic Sharia law is fully implemented in Swat.
They have banned the playing of music in cars and are also using mosques to invite local youth to join them.They have banned the playing of music in cars and are also using mosques to invite local youth to join them.
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