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| Pakistan urging residents to flee | Pakistan urging residents to flee |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Pakistan's government has lifted a curfew in the Swat valley to allow residents to escape an intense battle between the army and Taleban militants. | Pakistan's government has lifted a curfew in the Swat valley to allow residents to escape an intense battle between the army and Taleban militants. |
| The curfew has trapped tens of thousands of people attempting to flee the violence. | The curfew has trapped tens of thousands of people attempting to flee the violence. |
| The army is trying to reverse militant advances in the area, in what the prime minister has called a "fight for the survival of the country". | The army is trying to reverse militant advances in the area, in what the prime minister has called a "fight for the survival of the country". |
| The army said dozens of militants had been killed in fighting on Saturday. | The army said dozens of militants had been killed in fighting on Saturday. |
| The government said the curfew would be lifted for seven hours on Sunday, beginning at 0600 local time. | The government said the curfew would be lifted for seven hours on Sunday, beginning at 0600 local time. |
| It asked civilians to take the chance to flee the area. See a map of the region | It asked civilians to take the chance to flee the area. See a map of the region |
| Cars and buses have started arriving to pick up residents from Mingora, the biggest town in the region, and the nearby towns of Kambar and Raheemabad. | |
| BBC regional analyst Anbarasan Ethirajan says the lifting of the curfew is a sign that the army offensive is likely to intensify over the coming days. | BBC regional analyst Anbarasan Ethirajan says the lifting of the curfew is a sign that the army offensive is likely to intensify over the coming days. |
| Cynicism among Swat refugees In pictures: Pakistanis flee | Cynicism among Swat refugees In pictures: Pakistanis flee |
| Pakistan's government signed a peace agreement with the Swat Taleban in February, allowing Sharia law there, which was sharply criticised by Washington. | Pakistan's government signed a peace agreement with the Swat Taleban in February, allowing Sharia law there, which was sharply criticised by Washington. |
| The militants then moved towards the capital, Islamabad, causing further alarm. | The militants then moved towards the capital, Islamabad, causing further alarm. |
| Up to 15,000 troops have been deployed in the Swat valley and neighbouring areas to take on 4,000-5,000 militants. | Up to 15,000 troops have been deployed in the Swat valley and neighbouring areas to take on 4,000-5,000 militants. |
| The military has said it intends to "eliminate" the Taleban fighters. | The military has said it intends to "eliminate" the Taleban fighters. |
| The fighting has already displaced some 200,000 people, while a further 300,000 are estimated to be on the move or about to flee, the UN says. | The fighting has already displaced some 200,000 people, while a further 300,000 are estimated to be on the move or about to flee, the UN says. |
| The government also said on Saturday that refugee camps would be set up in Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, and to the north-east in Naushara. | The government also said on Saturday that refugee camps would be set up in Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, and to the north-east in Naushara. |
| Footage on local television showed people at one camp desperately looting UN supplies including blankets and cooking oil. | Footage on local television showed people at one camp desperately looting UN supplies including blankets and cooking oil. |
| 'Road jammed' | 'Road jammed' |
| Earlier, fighting was reported to have reached Mingora, which the army has been trying to recapture. | |
| One resident in the town told the Associated Press news agency he was too scared to flee, and was running out of food for his three children. | One resident in the town told the Associated Press news agency he was too scared to flee, and was running out of food for his three children. |
| "We have no electricity, no running water, and we are almost out of food, milk and other things," said the man, Ikramullah Khan. "We do not know what to do." | "We have no electricity, no running water, and we are almost out of food, milk and other things," said the man, Ikramullah Khan. "We do not know what to do." |
| Some 15,000 troops have been deployed to fight the Taleban | Some 15,000 troops have been deployed to fight the Taleban |
| The army said it had killed 55 more militants on Saturday, having said that more than 140 militants had died in earlier clashes. | The army said it had killed 55 more militants on Saturday, having said that more than 140 militants had died in earlier clashes. |
| Due to the intensity of the fighting and the cutting of phone networks, it is difficult to get independent information on the fighting or verify the army's claims, correspondents say. | Due to the intensity of the fighting and the cutting of phone networks, it is difficult to get independent information on the fighting or verify the army's claims, correspondents say. |
| Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani told reporters on Saturday called the conflict "a guerrilla war". | Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani told reporters on Saturday called the conflict "a guerrilla war". |
| "This is our own war. This is war for the survival of the country," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. | "This is our own war. This is war for the survival of the country," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. |
| Residents have been blaming both sides for the violence, our correspondent says, as the military continues to bombard the area while the Taleban reportedly prevents people from fleeing. | |
| One Mingora resident was quoted by Reuters saying he had not been able to escape during an earlier curfew. | One Mingora resident was quoted by Reuters saying he had not been able to escape during an earlier curfew. |
| "We are feeling so helpless, we want to go but can't," said Sallahudin Khan. | "We are feeling so helpless, we want to go but can't," said Sallahudin Khan. |
| "We tried to leave yesterday after authorities relaxed the curfew for a few hours, but we couldn't as the main road leading out of Mingora was literally jammed with the flood of fleeing people." | "We tried to leave yesterday after authorities relaxed the curfew for a few hours, but we couldn't as the main road leading out of Mingora was literally jammed with the flood of fleeing people." |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |
| Have you been affected by the fighting in the region? Have you been displaced? Send us your comments and stories using the form below. | Have you been affected by the fighting in the region? Have you been displaced? Send us your comments and stories 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 |