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Militants attack Pakistani town Militants attack Pakistani town
(about 3 hours later)
Militants have launched a wave of attacks on security forces in a town in north-west Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan, officials say. Hundreds of heavily-armed militants have attacked security forces in north-west Pakistan, officials say.
At least one soldier died in what officials said was a seven-hour onslaught in Tank near the troubled tribal region of South Waziristan. Up to 25 militants died, police said, along with a soldier and a civilian in the town of Tank near South Waziristan in the troubled Afghan border area.
Security posts and private property were attacked with rockets and mortars. Security posts and property were said to have been attacked by militants with rockets in a seven-hour onslaught.
Armed men also seized the headmaster of a school, where two people died when police and militants clashed on Monday.Armed men also seized the headmaster of a school, where two people died when police and militants clashed on Monday.
The local authorities in Tank say they have imposed an indefinite curfew to prevent a second night of militant attacks.
'Taleban''Taleban'
Police say they are gathering information about the number of people dead or wounded in the seven-hour battle with light and heavy weapons in Tank. Tank's police superintendent, Mumtaz Zarin, told the BBC that 300-400 armed militants had attacked the town overnight.
Witnesses say several banks were ransacked and set on fire while the streets were littered with bodies. Shops and markets were closed on Wednesday following the night of violence. Smoke was coming out of burning banks and computers and furniture lay scattered on the roads Tank resident Mohammad Noor
The army had now been called to reinforce the town's defences against another possible night of attacks, he said.
Military helicopters circled over the town on Wednesday.
Mr Zarin confirmed the death of a paramilitary soldier and a civilian in the fighting.
He said that the militants had taken most of their dead away with them, but that sources had told the police that as many as 25 had been killed.
No independent confirmation of this figure is available.
Witnesses confirmed seeing a body of an unidentified man in the town's bazaar. A guard at a bank was among the wounded.
The militants targeted six banks, along with a paramilitary compound, a college and some government offices, officials said.
A local resident, Mohammad Noor, told the BBC the main bazaar looked like a battleground.
"Smoke was coming out of burning banks and computers and furniture lay scattered on the roads."
He said the security forces were not allowing people into the civilian areas adjacent to the military compound.
Earlier, witnesses said the streets were littered with bodies.
'Taleban'
The authorities shut schools on Tuesday fearing a backlash after Monday's violence.The authorities shut schools on Tuesday fearing a backlash after Monday's violence.
Local militant leader Ehsan Barqi was killed in the clash. Police said he wanted to talk to students at the Oxford Public School about jihad (holy war).Local militant leader Ehsan Barqi was killed in the clash. Police said he wanted to talk to students at the Oxford Public School about jihad (holy war).
The latest attacks came on the day a delegation of tribal elders was to meet tribal militant leader, Baitullah Mehsud, to seek his support in bringing normalcy in the city. The latest attacks came on the day a delegation of tribal elders was to meet tribal militant leader, Baitullah Mehsud, to seek his support in restoring calm in the city.
Officials say the militants who tried to enter the school on Monday were all members of the "local Taleban". Officials say the militants who tried to enter the school on Monday were all members of the "local Taleban", whose authority has been growing in the tribal areas.
The BBC's Haroon Rashid in Peshawar says the violence in Tank comes after a string of attacks on policemen by suspected pro-Taleban militants in the region.The BBC's Haroon Rashid in Peshawar says the violence in Tank comes after a string of attacks on policemen by suspected pro-Taleban militants in the region.
Tank is in North-West Frontier Province, about 100km (75 miles) from the Afghan border.Tank is in North-West Frontier Province, about 100km (75 miles) from the Afghan border.
It is next to the restive South Waziristan tribal region, where there have recently been heavy clashes. It is not far from South Waziristan, a troubled tribal region where there have recently been heavy clashes.