Fighting leaves 60 dead near Afghan border

[sabra]

Source: AP

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan - Heavy fighting between Pakistani tribesmen and foreign militants allegedly linked to Al Qaeda has killed another 60 people near the Afghan border, security officials said Wednesday.

Local tribes turned viciously against foreigners in the lawless South Waziristan region on March 19. The government says the violence shows Pakistan is winning its fight against international terrorism.

About 50 of those killed in the past 24 hours in South Waziristan were Uzbeks, three security officials told The Associated Press. About 10 local tribesmen and one Pakistani soldier also died, they said.

The officials asked for anonymity because they were not authorized to make media statements.

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[maddezmom]

1. Pakistan tribal assault leaves 250 dead in a month

Pakistan tribal assault leaves 250 dead in a month by S.H. Khan
6 minutes ago



WANA, Pakistan (AFP) - Pakistani tribesmen beating war drums Wednesday launched their biggest assault yet against foreign Al-Qaeda militants in a border region after weeks of fighting that have left 250 people dead.

Islamabad says the offensive by about 1,000 conservative local tribesmen will cut cross-border attacks in Afghanistan, and shows the success of a peace deal in the lawless South Waziristan region that was criticised by the West.

Forty-four Uzbek, Chechen and Arab Islamic rebels were killed on Wednesday along with five tribesmen in heavy rocket and mortar clashes, the mountainous region's top administrator Hussainzada Khan told AFP.

"Intense fighting is still going on," he said.

Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao told reporters in Islamabad that the clashes are "the result of the agreements the government made with tribal people in which they pledged to expel foreigners and now they are doing it."

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070404/wl_afp/pakistanafghanistan_070404153358;_ylt=Apu.vpehrn8Qee9njB7uF6GQOrgF