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Pakistan pounds Taleban positions Pakistan pounds Taleban positions
(about 2 hours later)
Pakistani helicopter gunships and warplanes have been bombing suspected Taleban militants in the north-western Swat Valley, the military says. Pakistani helicopter gunships and warplanes have been bombing suspected Taleban militants in the Swat Valley as clashes intensify in the north-west.
Thousands of civilians continue to flee the area, with fighting especially heavy in the town of Mingora.Thousands of civilians continue to flee the area, with fighting especially heavy in the town of Mingora.
A son of the cleric who brokered a deal aimed at ending clashes is reported killed in shelling in a nearby area. Among those reported killed in fighting elsewhere is a son of the cleric behind a peace deal which has now broken down.
On Wednesday, US President Barack Obama vowed to "defeat al-Qaeda" and its allies in Pakistan and Afghanistan.On Wednesday, US President Barack Obama vowed to "defeat al-Qaeda" and its allies in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He was speaking after talks in Washington with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.He was speaking after talks in Washington with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.
'Mortar'
Cleric Sufi Mohammed acted as a mediator between the government and Taleban forces in the north-west.
See a map of the region See a map of the region
He organised a recent peace deal in the Swat valley which has now broken down amid heavy fighting.
Family members say that the cleric's son, Kiffayatullah, was killed in the Daro area of Lower Dir late on Wednesday night.
"My brother was in his house when a mortar fell on it and he was killed," another son, Zia ul-Islam, told the BBC.
Sufi Mohammed's son-in-law was also injured in the attack.
There has been no word from the military or the Taleban about the death.
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says the death of Kiffayatullah is likely to exacerbate an already tense situation in the north-west.
Crossfire
A curfew has once again been lifted to allow civilians to leave Swat and join the tens of thousands who have already moved into camps or the homes of relatives further to the south.A curfew has once again been lifted to allow civilians to leave Swat and join the tens of thousands who have already moved into camps or the homes of relatives further to the south.
Clashes have been heavy in the town of Mingora class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/8036782.stm">Disquiet over 'Af-Pak' strategy class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/8036345.stm">'Common fight' against al-Qaeda
All are desperate not to get caught in the crossfire.All are desperate not to get caught in the crossfire.
Residents says at least 24 civilians have lost their lives in the past two days. Residents say at least 24 civilians have lost their lives in the past two days.
Some died when their houses were hit by artillery, while others were reportedly shot for defying a curfew.Some died when their houses were hit by artillery, while others were reportedly shot for defying a curfew.
Ayaz Khan, from the Kanju area of Swat told the AP news agency that he loaded his family into his car early on Thursday but that rocks, boulders and tree trunks had been laid across the roads, forcing him to turn back. The BBC Urdu service's Riffatullah Orakzai says that eyewitnesses in the Kanju area near Mingora have seen militants set up checkposts on the main roads and are not allowing people who want to flee the fighting to pass.
"I am helpless, frustrated and worried for my family," he said. Witnesses say a large number of people, including women and children, are now stranded there.
A health worker living in Mingora told AP that militants had warned her to stay in her home. Shaukat Saleem, a lawyer who spoke to the BBC from Mingora, said that about 200,000 had now left the town, with a further 500,000 civilians remaining.
"During the whole of Wednesday night , I heard firing, and again this morning," she said. He accused both the army and the Taleban of shooting civilians who tried to flee the fighting.
Troops moving into the valley have been attacked by remote controlled bombs, while the army says it has killed dozens of militants. Mr Saleem said that electricity supplies were sporadic and there was little or no water, while the price of goods had shot up.
It says it has recaptured emerald mines in the Shahdara area, near Mingora, which were being operated by the militants. During the day there is usually a lull in the fighting, Mr Saleem said, with the Taleban very much in control. But at night the exchanges of fire increased and a lot of people had been killed.
In nearby Dir district, there were also clashes.
Family members of cleric Sufi Mohammed say his son, Kiffayatullah, was killed in the Daro area of Lower Dir late on Wednesday night.
"My brother was in his house when a mortar fell on it and he was killed," another of the cleric's sons, Zia ul-Islam, told the BBC. Sufi Mohammed's son-in-law was also injured in the attack.
Sufi Mohammed acted as a mediator between the government and Taleban forces in the north-west and organised the now defunct peace deal in Swat.
There has been no word from the military or the Taleban about the death.
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says the death of Kiffayatullah is likely to exacerbate an already tense situation.
Hostages
Troops moving into the Swat valley have been attacked by remote controlled bombs, while the army says it has killed dozens of militants.
Thousands have fled the fighting
It also says it has recaptured emerald mines in the Shahdara area, near Mingora, which were being operated by the militants.
Much of the fighting has focused on a hill which overlooks Mingora. The army says the Taleban have seized key buildings inside the town.Much of the fighting has focused on a hill which overlooks Mingora. The army says the Taleban have seized key buildings inside the town.
In an another incident, militants overran a paramilitary fort in the Chakdara area of Lower Dir, officials say.
Three paramilitary soldiers were killed in the attack and 10 policemen were taken away as hostages.
They say that the Taleban used explosives and heavy weapons in the attack which severely damaged the fort.
'Humanitarian crisis''Humanitarian crisis'
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says troops moving into Swat face resistance all along the 40km (25-mile) road that heads in a north-easterly direction from Malakand to Mingora.The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says troops moving into Swat face resistance all along the 40km (25-mile) road that heads in a north-easterly direction from Malakand to Mingora.
Our correspondent says that fighting has not only erupted in several areas around Mingora, but there are also reports of more clashes in the neighbouring area of Buner.Our correspondent says that fighting has not only erupted in several areas around Mingora, but there are also reports of more clashes in the neighbouring area of Buner.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has meanwhile warned that a humanitarian crisis is intensifying in north-west Pakistan.The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has meanwhile warned that a humanitarian crisis is intensifying in north-west Pakistan.
In a statement the ICRC said that it no longer had access to the areas most affected by the conflict and that precise statistics of the displaced were difficult to ascertain.In a statement the ICRC said that it no longer had access to the areas most affected by the conflict and that precise statistics of the displaced were difficult to ascertain.
"The ICRC and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society are currently marshalling their resources to be able to provide for 120,000 internally displaced people, affected by the fighting, with food and essential relief items," it said."The ICRC and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society are currently marshalling their resources to be able to provide for 120,000 internally displaced people, affected by the fighting, with food and essential relief items," it said.