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Militants overrun Pakistan fort Militants overrun Pakistan fort
(about 2 hours later)
Hundreds of militants in north-west Pakistan have overrun a paramilitary fort, killing or kidnapping many troops, the military says. Hundreds of militants have overrun a paramilitary fort in north-west Pakistan, killing or kidnapping many troops, the military says.
At least eight soldiers died in the raid and 15 escaped, the army says. The whereabouts of another 25 are unknown. Some reports put the death toll higher.At least eight soldiers died in the raid and 15 escaped, the army says. The whereabouts of another 25 are unknown. Some reports put the death toll higher.
South Waziristan is a known stronghold of Taleban and al-Qaeda militants. South Waziristan is a known stronghold of pro-Taleban and al-Qaeda militants.
The region has been at the centre of fighting between the army and the militants in recent months.The region has been at the centre of fighting between the army and the militants in recent months.
GunfireGunfire
The army says that up to 40 attackers were killed in the fighting. There is no independent confirmation of this figure. "About 200 militants charged the fort from four sides," army spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas said.
Correspondents say that Sararogha area is a stronghold of a militant leader, Baitullah Mehsud, who the government accused of being behind the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi on 27 December. "They broke through the fort's wall with rockets."
Officials said troops at the fort came under rocket and automatic weapons attack from militants on Tuesday night, and returned fire. Local officials and other reports suggest the number of militants may have been nearer to 1,000.
People in the Sararogha area said the exchange of fire went on for four hours. Observers say this is the first time that militants have captured a fort in Pakistan.
They said the militants entered the remote military outpost and started shifting weapons and captured troops. The army says that up to 40 attackers were killed in the fighting, something the tribal fighters deny. There is no independent confirmation of this figure.
Meanwhile, the political administration of South Waziristan agency, based in neighbouring North West Frontier Province, has called a council of the Mahsud tribe to try to resolve the issue. Officials said troops at the fort came under rocket and automatic weapons attack from militants on Tuesday night.
Soldiers returned fire and the battle went on until early on Wednesday morning. People in the Sararogha area told the BBC Urdu service the exchange of fire went on for four hours.
They said the militants entered the remote military outpost and started shifting weapons and troops they had captured out of the fort.
It is unclear whether the militants are still inside the fort.
Militant leader
Correspondents say the Sararogha area is a stronghold of pro-Taleban militant leader Baitullah Mehsud.
He is accused by the government of being behind the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi on 27 December and a wave of other bombings in recent months.
Meanwhile, the political administration of South Waziristan agency, based in neighbouring North West Frontier Province, has called a council of the Mehsud tribe to try to resolve the issue.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that in recent weeks there has been an increase in skirmishes on Mehsud tribal lands.
Sources say the government is considering an economic blockade of the tribe.