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Militants attack prison in NW Pakistan Militants attack prison in NW Pakistan
(35 minutes later)
Taliban militants wearing police uniform have launched an assault on a prison in north-west Pakistan.Taliban militants wearing police uniform have launched an assault on a prison in north-west Pakistan.
The attack on the jail in the town of Dera Ismail Khan began with several explosions at around midnight on Monday.The attack on the jail in the town of Dera Ismail Khan began with several explosions at around midnight on Monday.
Gunmen then opened fire with rocket-propelled grenades and machine-guns, police chief Sohail Khalid said.Gunmen then opened fire with rocket-propelled grenades and machine-guns, police chief Sohail Khalid said.
The prison houses hundreds of Taliban and militants from banned groups. The fighting is still going on.The prison houses hundreds of Taliban and militants from banned groups. The fighting is still going on.
The attackers were chanting "God is great" and "Long live the Taliban," officials told the Associated Press.The attackers were chanting "God is great" and "Long live the Taliban," officials told the Associated Press.
A local resident told the agency that the initial blast was so loud that "it rattled every house in the neighbourhood".A local resident told the agency that the initial blast was so loud that "it rattled every house in the neighbourhood".
Pakistani Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid has claimed responsibility for the attack. He said around 300 prisoners had been freed.Pakistani Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid has claimed responsibility for the attack. He said around 300 prisoners had been freed.
"The Taliban have loudspeakers and they are calling the names of their friends," the town's civil commissioner, Mushtaq Jadoon, said."The Taliban have loudspeakers and they are calling the names of their friends," the town's civil commissioner, Mushtaq Jadoon, said.
The head of the provincial prison department, Khalid Abbas, told AP that authorities had received a letter threatening an attack on the prison, but they did not expect it so soon. Officials said that authorities had been aware of a threat to attack the prison in recent weeks.
Mr Abbas said he was not sure if any of the jail's 40 "high profile" prisoners had escaped. Provincial prisons chief Khalid Abbas said he was not sure if any of the jail's 40 "high-profile" prisoners had escaped.
Hundreds of inmates were freed in an assault on a prison in Bannu in northern Pakistan in April last year.Hundreds of inmates were freed in an assault on a prison in Bannu in northern Pakistan in April last year.
Dera Ismail Khan is the main city in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, in Pakistan's restive, mountainous tribal region.Dera Ismail Khan is the main city in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, in Pakistan's restive, mountainous tribal region.
Monday night's violence comes hours before Pakistani politicians are expected to choose the country's new president.Monday night's violence comes hours before Pakistani politicians are expected to choose the country's new president.
The replacement for Asif Ali Zardari will be elected on Tuesday by the members of both houses of parliament and the four provincial assemblies.The replacement for Asif Ali Zardari will be elected on Tuesday by the members of both houses of parliament and the four provincial assemblies.