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100 militants killed in Pakistan tribal region fighting

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-11 10:20

ISLAMABAD -- At least 100 militants have been killed in fighting started in a tribal region four days ago, the army said Sunday.

Army spokesman Major Murad said that 13 soldiers were also killed in the fighting in the Bajaur tribal region.

He also denied the Taliban claim to have surrounded Khar, the center of Bajaur.

The Taliban have claimed that their fighters are very close to Khar after taking control of Loi Som, a town 15 kilometers from Khar.

Murad said that positions of suspected Taliban were shelled at Loi Som and adjoining areas to end Taliban control.

There have been conflicting reports about casualties after Sunday's bombing of Loi Som.

Taliban spokesman Maulvi Umar said that the militants Sunday killed 15 soldiers who had been hiding in suburbs of Khar. There was no confirmation of the claim by the army.

Thousands of people, including children and women, are leaving Bajaur as fighting is spreading in the region, according to local press reports. Most of the people are heading to Peshawar, the capital of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).