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| Swat exodus as ceasefire crumbles | Swat exodus as ceasefire crumbles |
| (1 day 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. |
| More than 40,000 people have so far fled from clashes between the army and militants in Swat, officials say. | More than 40,000 people have so far fled from clashes between the army and militants in Swat, officials say. |
| Fighting erupted on Tuesday night in Mingora, Swat's main town, where the Taleban defied a curfew, they add. | Fighting erupted on Tuesday night in Mingora, Swat's main town, where the Taleban defied a curfew, they add. |
| Pakistan's army says it killed more than 60 militants in Swat and neighbouring Buner on Wednesday. | Pakistan's army says it killed more than 60 militants in Swat and neighbouring Buner on Wednesday. |
| Bedraggled men, women and children are fleeing the area to settle in camps set up by the government with UN help. | Bedraggled men, women and children are fleeing the area to settle in camps set up by the government with UN help. |
| See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
| The army says that at least two soldiers died in fighting on Wednesday and accused militants of robbing three banks in Mingora. | The army says that at least two soldiers died in fighting on Wednesday and accused militants of robbing three banks in Mingora. |
| It says that the Taleban have also planted roadside bombs in various areas of Swat to inflict maximum damage on the security forces. | It says that the Taleban have also planted roadside bombs in various areas of Swat to inflict maximum damage on the security forces. |
| A curfew remains in place in Mingora | A curfew remains in place in Mingora |
| Army helicopter gunships have pounded emerald mines in the Shahdara area, near Mingora, which are being operated by the militants. | Army helicopter gunships have pounded emerald mines in the Shahdara area, near Mingora, which are being operated by the militants. |
| Local people and journalists say 20 civilians who lived in a settlement near the mine also died in the attack, while many others were injured in a separate air strike. | Local people and journalists say 20 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 and the curfew. | While civilians strive to flee Mingora and its adjoining areas, some are reported to be trapped by the fighting and the curfew. |
| FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
| 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. | 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. |
| They say that in addition at least 85 children have been trapped in a Mingora orphanage for the last two days. | They say that in addition at least 85 children have been trapped in a Mingora orphanage for the last two days. |
| Shelter | 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. | 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 | The Taleban and Swat's emeralds |
| They say the militants are now entrenched and ready for a long battle. | They say the militants are now entrenched and ready 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 NWFP Information Minster, Mian Iftikhar, said that the breakdown of the peace deal rested solely with the Taleban. | The NWFP Information Minster, Mian Iftikhar, said that the breakdown of the peace deal rested solely with the Taleban. |
| "They are entirely responsible for the situation today," he told a crowded news conference in Peshawar. | "They are entirely responsible for the situation today," he told a crowded news conference in Peshawar. |
| "The government went to great lengths to resolve the matter through dialogue. | "The government went to great lengths to resolve the matter through dialogue. |
| "This was despite great international pressure to take action against the militants. | "This was despite great international pressure to take action against the militants. |
| "But they refused to lay down their arms and continued patrols in the [Swat] valley, despite the implementation of Sharia law." | "But they refused to lay down their arms and continued patrols in the [Swat] valley, despite the implementation of Sharia law." |
| Mr Iftikhar also accused the Taleban of attacking military convoys and kidnapping government officials. | Mr Iftikhar also accused the Taleban of attacking military convoys and kidnapping government officials. |
| 'Fitting reply' | 'Fitting reply' |
| Taleban spokesman Muslim Khan responded by claiming that the militants control "more than 90%" of Swat. | Taleban spokesman Muslim Khan responded by claiming that the militants control "more than 90%" of Swat. |
| It is now the duty of the government to take action against the Taleban NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar | It is now the duty of the government to take action against the Taleban NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar |
| He blamed the latest deaths on the security forces. | He blamed the latest deaths on the security forces. |
| "If the government launches an operation against us we will give them a fitting reply, which it will remember for a long time," he told the AFP news agency. | "If the government launches an operation against us we will give them a fitting reply, which it will remember for a long time," he told the AFP news agency. |
| 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. |