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| Pakistan army 'progress' in Swat | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Pakistani army says it has seized parts of the Swat valley, as it begins the second day of an offensive against Taliban militants in the main city. | The Pakistani army says it has seized parts of the Swat valley, as it begins the second day of an offensive against Taliban militants in the main city. |
| Troops are engaged in hand-to-hand fighting with the militants in Mingora, and are said to have cleared them from another town, Matta. | Troops are engaged in hand-to-hand fighting with the militants in Mingora, and are said to have cleared them from another town, Matta. |
| At least 17 militants have been killed in the clashes, the army says. The Taliban deny the deaths. | At least 17 militants have been killed in the clashes, the army says. The Taliban deny the deaths. |
| The fighting began after a peace deal broke down earlier this month. | The fighting began after a peace deal broke down earlier this month. |
| See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
| The military says Mingora is surrounded, most of the militants' ammunition dumps are destroyed and their supply routes cut off. | The military says Mingora is surrounded, most of the militants' ammunition dumps are destroyed and their supply routes cut off. |
| Meanwhile police said a French tourist had been kidnapped by gunmen in the southern Baluchistan province. | Meanwhile police said a French tourist had been kidnapped by gunmen in the southern Baluchistan province. |
| Four other French nationals travelling with the tourist reported the kidnapping, near the town of Dalbandin 80km (50 miles) from the Afghan border. | Four other French nationals travelling with the tourist reported the kidnapping, near the town of Dalbandin 80km (50 miles) from the Afghan border. |
| 'Slow offensive' | 'Slow offensive' |
| The BBC's Shoaib Hassan, in Islamabad, says the Swat battle is the most important yet in the army's offensive against the Taliban in the north-west. | The BBC's Shoaib Hassan, in Islamabad, says the Swat battle is the most important yet in the army's offensive against the Taliban in the north-west. |
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| The BBC's Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad: "They have entrenched positions over years" | |
| A swift victory would bolster public support for a greater fight against the militants, our correspondent adds. | A swift victory would bolster public support for a greater fight against the militants, our correspondent adds. |
| "Street fights have begun," Maj Gen Athar Abbas told reporters. | "Street fights have begun," Maj Gen Athar Abbas told reporters. |
| He said soldiers had cleared parts of the city, but added that the pace of the offensive was "painfully slow". | He said soldiers had cleared parts of the city, but added that the pace of the offensive was "painfully slow". |
| "This is an extremely difficult, extremely dangerous operation, because clearance has to be done street by street, house by house." | "This is an extremely difficult, extremely dangerous operation, because clearance has to be done street by street, house by house." |
| A Taliban spokesman confirmed that the military had entered Mingora, but denied that any militants had been killed. | A Taliban spokesman confirmed that the military had entered Mingora, but denied that any militants had been killed. |
| The spokesman also said the Taliban would fight the security forces to their last breath. | The spokesman also said the Taliban would fight the security forces to their last breath. |
| Hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled the fighting in the north-east | Hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled the fighting in the north-east |
| Residents say the militants are still in control of the city. | Residents say the militants are still in control of the city. |
| Nearly 1.5 million people have been displaced by this month's fighting in the north-western region, and about two million since last August, the United Nations refugee agency says. | Nearly 1.5 million people have been displaced by this month's fighting in the north-western region, and about two million since last August, the United Nations refugee agency says. |
| On Friday, the UN appealed for $543m in humanitarian aid to help those displaced by the conflict. | On Friday, the UN appealed for $543m in humanitarian aid to help those displaced by the conflict. |
| Pakistan's army began an offensive against the Taliban on 2 May after the peace deal broke down and the militants began expanding their area of influence. | Pakistan's army began an offensive against the Taliban on 2 May after the peace deal broke down and the militants began expanding their area of influence. |
| A recent investigation by the BBC suggested that less than half of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP), which contains Swat Valley, and the neighbouring Federally Administered Tribal Areas is under full government control. | A recent investigation by the BBC suggested that less than half of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP), which contains Swat Valley, and the neighbouring Federally Administered Tribal Areas is under full government control. |
| In Swat, the army says that about 15,000 members of the security forces are fighting between 4,000 and 5,000 militants. | In Swat, the army says that about 15,000 members of the security forces are fighting between 4,000 and 5,000 militants. |
| It says more than 1,000 militants and more than 50 soldiers have been killed since the offensive began. | It says more than 1,000 militants and more than 50 soldiers have been killed since the offensive began. |
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