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Swat exodus as ceasefire crumbles | Swat exodus as ceasefire crumbles |
(41 minutes later) | |
Thousands of civilians are reported to be fleeing their homes in Pakistan's Swat valley where a peace deal with the Taleban looks increasingly fragile. | Thousands of civilians are reported to be fleeing their homes in Pakistan's Swat valley where a peace deal with the Taleban looks increasingly fragile. |
Officials say that more than 40,000 people have so far fled from clashes between the army and militants in Swat. | Officials say that more than 40,000 people have so far fled from clashes between the army and militants in Swat. |
Fighting broke out on Tuesday night in Mingora, the main town in Swat, where the Taleban occupied key buildings and defied a curfew, officials say. | Fighting broke out on Tuesday night in Mingora, the main town in Swat, where the Taleban occupied key buildings and defied a curfew, officials say. |
At least nine people have been killed in the latest Swat fighting, they say. | |
Bedraggled men, women in burkas and children are all now fleeing the area. | Bedraggled men, women in burkas and children are all now fleeing the area. |
See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
Army helicopters gunships have pounded emerald mines in the Shahdara area, near Mingora, which are being operated by the militants. | |
The army claims to have killed several militants in this attack, but there is no independent confirmation of their claims. | |
Local people and journalists say five civilians who lived in a settlement near the mine also died in the attack, while many others were injured in a separate air strike. | |
While civilians strive to flee Mingora and its adjoining areas, some are reported to be trapped by the fighting - in which both sides have been using heavy weapons - and the curfew. | |
Three members of a single family were killed when a mortar fell on their home in Mingora's Bacha Saib locality during one of these battles, officials say. | |
Shelter | |
Locals say the army continues to rely on long range weapons and artillery to target the militants, but the Taleban have complete control on the ground. | |
The Taleban and Swat's emeralds | |
They say the militants have mined the area they control and entrenched themselves for a long battle. | |
"More than 40,000 have migrated from Mingora since Tuesday afternoon," Khushhal Khan, chief administration officer in Swat, told the AFP news agency. | "More than 40,000 have migrated from Mingora since Tuesday afternoon," Khushhal Khan, chief administration officer in Swat, told the AFP news agency. |
The North West Frontier Province (NWFP) government is now rushing to provide shelter for 500,000 people they expect to flee Swat over the next few days. | The North West Frontier Province (NWFP) government is now rushing to provide shelter for 500,000 people they expect to flee Swat over the next few days. |
The BBC's Mark Dummett in Islamabad says that camps are being set up with UN help to look after people who cannot stay with relatives. | The BBC's Mark Dummett in Islamabad says that camps are being set up with UN help to look after people who cannot stay with relatives. |
However our correspondent says that the army has not yet launched the offensive that most are now expecting. | However our correspondent says that the army has not yet launched the offensive that most are now expecting. |
The renewed tension in Swat comes before US President Barack Obama meets President Karzai of Afghanistan and President Zardari of Pakistan in Washington. | The renewed tension in Swat comes before US President Barack Obama meets President Karzai of Afghanistan and President Zardari of Pakistan in Washington. |
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says that the events in Swat have come full circle since a peace agreement was signed with militants earlier this year. | The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says that the events in Swat have come full circle since a peace agreement was signed with militants earlier this year. |
Last week the government set up higher Islamic courts in the Malakand region - of which Swat is a part - to meet a key demand of the militants. | Last week the government set up higher Islamic courts in the Malakand region - of which Swat is a part - to meet a key demand of the militants. |
But the government's appeals to the militants to disarm - which they say was agreed in the peace agreement - have fallen on deaf ears. | But the government's appeals to the militants to disarm - which they say was agreed in the peace agreement - have fallen on deaf ears. |
Meanwhile a tribal peace committee involving Maulana Sufi Mohammad - a local cleric who negotiated peace between the government and militants in Swat - is due to meet at his village in the Maidan area of Lower Dir district. | Meanwhile a tribal peace committee involving Maulana Sufi Mohammad - a local cleric who negotiated peace between the government and militants in Swat - is due to meet at his village in the Maidan area of Lower Dir district. |
Sufi Mohammad has recently courted controversy by declaring democracy as anti-Islamic and by rejecting the government-appointed judges to the newly-established Islamic high courts in Malakand. | Sufi Mohammad has recently courted controversy by declaring democracy as anti-Islamic and by rejecting the government-appointed judges to the newly-established Islamic high courts in Malakand. |
Correspondents say that there is also unrest in Lower Dir following last week's military action to prevent the spread of Taleban there. | Correspondents say that there is also unrest in Lower Dir following last week's military action to prevent the spread of Taleban there. |
Are you in the Swat valley? Are you affected by the fighting? Will you be trying to flee the area? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in the Swat valley? Are you affected by the fighting? Will you be trying to flee the area? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |