Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 26, 2008

Militants, Pro-Gov't Group Clash in Northwestern Pakistan, 15 Dead
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Officials say three commanders are among the 10 militants killed in the
battle Sunday in the Matta district of Northwest Frontier Province 
Pakistani officials say at least 15 people have died in a gunbattle
between militants and local pro-government fighters in the northwestern
Swat valley. Officials say three commanders were among the 10 militants
killed in the battle Sunday in the Matta district of Northwest Frontier
Province. At least five pro-government fighters also died. A Pakistani
armored vehicle fires toward Taliban positions in Loi Sam, in the Bajaur
tribal region, Pakistan, 25 Oct 2008Reports say the fighting began after
militants took at least 60 people hostage. In the same province today.
police say the brother of Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was
shot dead and left in a canal in Bannu district. Residents say the
victim, Yahya, was not involved in Taliban activities. It is not clear
why he was killed. In the nearby Bajaur tribal region Sunday, Pakistani
security officials say government forces killed at least eight militants
with the help of military helicopters. The military says nearly!
  1,500 suspected militants and 73 troops have died during a
two-month-long offensive in Bajaur. Bajaur borders Afghanistan and is
one of the tribal areas where the Pakistani government previously had
little influence. Taliban and al-Qaida militants regularly launch
cross-border raids into Afghanistan from the mountainous region. On
Saturday, the military said it recaptured a key border town in Bajaur,
dealing a severe blow to the militants' communication lines. The
commander of the Bajaur offensive, Major-General Tariq Khan, said Loisam
village was destroyed in heavy fighting. He warned it could take several
more months before Pakistani authorities gain complete control of the
region. The United Nations says the fighting has displaced about 190,000
people, many of whom have fled to Afghanistan.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters, AFP and AP.


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