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| Swat Taliban chief 'near death' | Swat Taliban chief 'near death' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The leader of Taliban militants in Pakistan's Swat district has been critically wounded and is close to death, the BBC has learned. | The leader of Taliban militants in Pakistan's Swat district has been critically wounded and is close to death, the BBC has learned. |
| The information about Maulana Fazlullah confirms statements from senior government and security officials. | The information about Maulana Fazlullah confirms statements from senior government and security officials. |
| A former village cleric, he founded the branch of the Taliban movement which eventually took over the Swat valley. | A former village cleric, he founded the branch of the Taliban movement which eventually took over the Swat valley. |
| After a recent offensive, Pakistan's army says it has almost defeated rebels in that sector of the north-west. | After a recent offensive, Pakistan's army says it has almost defeated rebels in that sector of the north-west. |
| It has been battling Taliban militants there for about two months and the government says it has regained control of the region. | It has been battling Taliban militants there for about two months and the government says it has regained control of the region. |
| 'No medicine' | 'No medicine' |
| The information about Maulana Falzullah was gathered from interviews carried out by the BBC in his heartland in the north-west of Pakistan. | The information about Maulana Falzullah was gathered from interviews carried out by the BBC in his heartland in the north-west of Pakistan. |
| See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
| "Maulana Fazlullah was actually hit in two air strikes, and is critically wounded," Wasif Ali, a resident of Mingora told the BBC on Wednesday during a trip to Swat. | |
| "He is now stranded in Imam Dehri without any access to medical assistance and is close to death." | "He is now stranded in Imam Dehri without any access to medical assistance and is close to death." |
| Mr Ali has close contacts with the militants and has been keeping a close watch on their movements in the area. | Mr Ali has close contacts with the militants and has been keeping a close watch on their movements in the area. |
| He confirmed that another senior Taliban leader, Shah Duran, was also killed in an air strike as earlier stated by the army. | |
| The Taliban overran the Swat valley earlier this year | The Taliban overran the Swat valley earlier this year |
| Interviews with other locals corroborated claims that Maulana Fazlullah had been seriously injured. | Interviews with other locals corroborated claims that Maulana Fazlullah had been seriously injured. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan's top military spokesman, Maj General Athar Abbas said that Maulana Fazlullah had been hurt in an airstrike. | Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan's top military spokesman, Maj General Athar Abbas said that Maulana Fazlullah had been hurt in an airstrike. |
| "But we cannot confirm his exact condition at the moment," he said. | "But we cannot confirm his exact condition at the moment," he said. |
| Maulana Fazlullah used to be a prayer leader at the mosque in his village. | Maulana Fazlullah used to be a prayer leader at the mosque in his village. |
| He became the most powerful man in Swat after using a radio station to broadcast his messages in the area. | He became the most powerful man in Swat after using a radio station to broadcast his messages in the area. |
| Eventually he called for his version of Islamic law in the region. At the height of his power, his militants became the main law enforcers in Swat. | Eventually he called for his version of Islamic law in the region. At the height of his power, his militants became the main law enforcers in Swat. |
| In April, Pakistan's army launched an operation against his forces following the violation of a peace deal with the government. | In April, Pakistan's army launched an operation against his forces following the violation of a peace deal with the government. |
| Mr Ali and his family stayed in Swat through the entire operation. | Mr Ali and his family stayed in Swat through the entire operation. |
| He said the fiercest fighting took place during the first three days of the military's assault on the urban areas. | He said the fiercest fighting took place during the first three days of the military's assault on the urban areas. |
| "It was when they pushed the Taliban off the emerald mines," he said. | "It was when they pushed the Taliban off the emerald mines," he said. |
| "The gunships were right on top of my homes when they opened fire on the militants." | "The gunships were right on top of my homes when they opened fire on the militants." |
| "We hid in the bathrooms and prayed for it to end." | "We hid in the bathrooms and prayed for it to end." |
| He says many of the Taliban were killed in that onslaught, while the rest melted away. | He says many of the Taliban were killed in that onslaught, while the rest melted away. |
| Currently, Swat's urban centres are being strictly patrolled by the military. | Currently, Swat's urban centres are being strictly patrolled by the military. |
| Mingora remains largely deserted as the military seeks out the remaining Taliban and arrests suspects. | Mingora remains largely deserted as the military seeks out the remaining Taliban and arrests suspects. |
| Armoured vehicles and heavily armed troops patrol the city streets to ensure they retain total control of an area which remains volatile. | Armoured vehicles and heavily armed troops patrol the city streets to ensure they retain total control of an area which remains volatile. |
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