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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan army 'in Taliban city' | Pakistan army 'in Taliban city' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Pakistani forces have clashed with Taliban fighters after entering the main city in the militant-controlled Swat Valley, the military has said. | Pakistani forces have clashed with Taliban fighters after entering the main city in the militant-controlled Swat Valley, the military has said. |
| At least 17 militants have been killed in street fighting in Mingora, it said. | At least 17 militants have been killed in street fighting in Mingora, it said. |
| The push into the city is the latest phase of an offensive aimed at crushing the militants, whose influence extends across a wide area of the north-west. | The push into the city is the latest phase of an offensive aimed at crushing the militants, whose influence extends across a wide area of the north-west. |
| The army has been fighting the Taliban in Swat and other areas since a peace deal broke down earlier this month. | The army has been fighting the Taliban in Swat and other areas since a peace deal broke down earlier this month. |
| See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
| "Street fights have begun," Maj Gen Athar Abbas told reporters. | "Street fights have begun," Maj Gen Athar Abbas told reporters. |
| "It is a difficult operation because we have to make a house-to-house search. We have cleared some of the area in the city." | "It is a difficult operation because we have to make a house-to-house search. We have cleared some of the area in the city." |
| The BBC's correspondent in Islamabad, Shaoib Hassan, says this is the most important battle yet in the army's offensive against the Taliban in Swat. | |
| Capturing the city is critical if the military is to regain control over the valley. | |
| The military said they had destroyed most of the Taliban's ammunition dumps. | |
| Gen Abbas said Mingora had been surrounded and supply routes to the militants cut off. | Gen Abbas said Mingora had been surrounded and supply routes to the militants cut off. |
| Mingora residents say the Taliban are putting up fierce resistance and are still in control of the city. | |
| Exodus | |
| Nearly 1.5 million people have been displaced by this month's fighting in the north-western region, and about two million since last August, the United Nations refugee agency says. | Nearly 1.5 million people have been displaced by this month's fighting in the north-western region, and about two million since last August, the United Nations refugee agency says. |
| On Friday, the UN appealed for $543m in humanitarian aid to help those displaced by the conflict. | On Friday, the UN appealed for $543m in humanitarian aid to help those displaced by the conflict. |
| Pakistan's army began an offensive against the Taliban on 2 May after the peace deal broke down and the militants began expanding their area of influence. | Pakistan's army began an offensive against the Taliban on 2 May after the peace deal broke down and the militants began expanding their area of influence. |
| A recent investigation by the BBC suggested that less than half of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP), which contains Swat Valley, and the neighbouring Federally Administered Tribal Areas is under full government control. | A recent investigation by the BBC suggested that less than half of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP), which contains Swat Valley, and the neighbouring Federally Administered Tribal Areas is under full government control. |
| In Swat, the army says that about 15,000 members of the security forces are fighting between 4,000 and 5,000 militants. | In Swat, the army says that about 15,000 members of the security forces are fighting between 4,000 and 5,000 militants. |
| It says more than 1,000 militants and more than 50 soldiers have been killed since the offensive began. | It says more than 1,000 militants and more than 50 soldiers have been killed since the offensive began. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |