'Many militants die' in Pakistan

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7196361.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Pakistani forces have killed up to 90 militants in separate battles in the South Waziristan region close to the Afghan border, the military has said.

Army spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas said that in one incident government forces attacked a large number of militants who were about to attack a fort.

On Wednesday militants briefly captured a different fort in the region, killing at least eight soldiers.

South Waziristan is a known stronghold of pro-Taleban and al-Qaeda militants.

There has been no comment on either incident from the Taleban.

The region has been at the centre of fighting between the army and the militants in recent months.

Retaliation

"The miscreants, these terrorists, wanted to probably attack another fort and they were gathering there. Therefore, the security forces took action in retaliation," Maj-Gen Abbas said.

The security forces used artillery and mortars against the militants and there were no casualties on the government side, he said.

The spokesman said that in another incident, militants ambushed a military convoy, and around 30 were killed when security forces retaliated.

He said that four members of the security forces were wounded.

Both clashes took place in the area of South Waziristan where the pro-Taleban militant, Baitullah Mehsud, operates.