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Pakistan militants 'under attack' Pakistan militants 'under attack'
(40 minutes later)
The Pakistani army has resumed shelling militants in the North Waziristan area officials say. The Pakistani army has resumed shelling militants in the North Waziristan area, officials say.
Around 250 people are reported to have been killed in five days of fighting. No journalists have had direct access to the fighting. Around 250 people are reported to have been killed in five days of fighting. Journalists have had difficulties accessing the main area of the clashes.
Local people say that thousands of civilians have fled the area.Local people say that thousands of civilians have fled the area.
President Musharraf - who is trying to overcome challenges to serving another term as president - has vowed to rid Waziristan of Islamic extremism.President Musharraf - who is trying to overcome challenges to serving another term as president - has vowed to rid Waziristan of Islamic extremism.
Correspondents say that the five days of clashes in North Waziristan are the heaviest since Pakistan supported the US-led "war on terror" in 2001. Air strikes on Tuesday left 50 rebels dead, unconfirmed reports say. Locals say many civilians died.Correspondents say that the five days of clashes in North Waziristan are the heaviest since Pakistan supported the US-led "war on terror" in 2001. Air strikes on Tuesday left 50 rebels dead, unconfirmed reports say. Locals say many civilians died.
Residents say the dead include women and children, but the army insists that most of the dead are pro-Taleban militants. class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7036032.stm"> Army's tribal quagmire class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3654&edition=1"> Waziristan clash: Your views
Residents say the dead include women and children, but the army insists that most of those killed are pro-Taleban militants.
Army spokesman Maj Gen Waheed Arshad said that while artillery may have been fired, no major incidents took place overnight.
But a resident of Mir Ali said that shells had hit houses in the town.
Funeral prayers
Correspondents say that the town is well-known as a base for foreign militants with links to the Taleban and al-Qaeda.
"I have not dared to go outside, so I don't know if there anyone was hurt," Farid Ullah told the Associated Press by telephone from Mir Ali.
Latest reports say many of Mir Ali's residents are trying to escape, but it is unclear how many are going.
On Tuesday, residents said Pakistani aircraft bombed the village of Epi, killing dozens of militants and civilians and injuring many more, including shoppers in a packed bazaar.
"Around 3,000 tribesmen gathered in the village (on Wednesday) to offer funeral prayers for some 50 people who died in the air strikes," a local official told the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity.
The army faces well-armed, well-trained militants in Waziristan
The violence has been escalating since mid-July when a ceasefire between the army and the militants broke down.
The army has been bombing suspected militant positions in villages using helicopter gun ships and jet fighters.
Access for journalists to the tribal areas is restricted and it is impossible to independently verify the casualty figures.
Traditionally, the security forces kept out of the tribal border areas.
That all changed in 2001 after Gen Musharraf allied Pakistan to the US-led "war on terror" and vowed to crack down on militants based there.
For much of that time there has been a heavy military presence in Waziristan. But militants have still managed to increase their influence and control in many areas.
Hundreds of soldiers have been killed. But critics say the military has not done enough to crack down on the militants.
Moreover, elements in the army and the intelligence services have been accused of helping them.
The military campaigns are deeply unpopular in Pakistan as they are widely seen as being carried out under American pressure.The military campaigns are deeply unpopular in Pakistan as they are widely seen as being carried out under American pressure.