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| 'Dozens die' in Pakistan fighting | 'Dozens die' in Pakistan fighting |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Fifty-two people have been killed in fresh fighting between foreign militants and local tribesmen in Pakistan, the interior minister says. | |
| Forty-five of the dead are foreign militants, thought to be of Uzbek origin, Aftab Khan Sherpao said. | Forty-five of the dead are foreign militants, thought to be of Uzbek origin, Aftab Khan Sherpao said. |
| The clashes began when tribesmen from the partially autonomous North Waziristan region began a campaign to eject the foreign fighters. | The clashes began when tribesmen from the partially autonomous North Waziristan region began a campaign to eject the foreign fighters. |
| With journalists barred from the area, casualty figures are hard to confirm. | With journalists barred from the area, casualty figures are hard to confirm. |
| In similar violence earlier in March, local residents said that government estimates of the number of foreign fighters killed were greatly overestimated. | In similar violence earlier in March, local residents said that government estimates of the number of foreign fighters killed were greatly overestimated. |
| Mr Sherpao is quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying the latest deaths bring the number of those killed since last week to 213, of whom some 177 are Uzbeks or their local allies. | Mr Sherpao is quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying the latest deaths bring the number of those killed since last week to 213, of whom some 177 are Uzbeks or their local allies. |
| "The fighting is going on, it intensified today after peace talks failed," Mr Sherpao told the AFP news agency. | "The fighting is going on, it intensified today after peace talks failed," Mr Sherpao told the AFP news agency. |
| "Tribes are insisting on their demand that these people either surrender or quit the area." | "Tribes are insisting on their demand that these people either surrender or quit the area." |
| Peace deal | Peace deal |
| Many fighters with ties to al-Qaeda regrouped in North Waziristan after the US attacked their bases in neighbouring Afghanistan in 2001. | Many fighters with ties to al-Qaeda regrouped in North Waziristan after the US attacked their bases in neighbouring Afghanistan in 2001. |
| The local militants are led by pro-Taleban commanders Mullah Nazir and Haji Sharif, while the foreign militants belong to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, correspondents say. | The local militants are led by pro-Taleban commanders Mullah Nazir and Haji Sharif, while the foreign militants belong to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, correspondents say. |
| Their leader is Tahir Yuldashev, said to have once been a confidante of Osama Bin Laden. | Their leader is Tahir Yuldashev, said to have once been a confidante of Osama Bin Laden. |
| A local tribal commander said the fighting would continue until all the foreign militants had been expelled from the area. | A local tribal commander said the fighting would continue until all the foreign militants had been expelled from the area. |
| In recent peace deals with the government, the tribesmen had promised to either get rid of the foreigners or prevent them from fighting. | In recent peace deals with the government, the tribesmen had promised to either get rid of the foreigners or prevent them from fighting. |
| The Afghan government and Nato criticised the agreements for creating militant safe havens. | The Afghan government and Nato criticised the agreements for creating militant safe havens. |