200 killed as Pakistani troops battle border militants

Facing pressure from the United States to crack down on Islamic extremists, military dictator General Pervez Musharraf ordered an offensive which is in its third day.

Using attack helicopters and jets to strafe militant positions along the Afghanistan border, the Pakistan military is claiming success, killing at least 50 al-Qaida and Taliban-linked militants.

One local resident disputes these claims stating the bombing has killed many civilians in their homes and at a bazaar. Mir Ali, a town 50,000 has seen 90% of the population flee the fighting.

President, General Pervez Musharraf caused great controversy after securing a new five-year term in office this past weekend. Within two days a helicopter of his convoy crashed in a suspected assassination attempt.

All this within weeks after Bin Laden urged a holy war within Pakistan.

Tens of thousands of Pakistani civilians are fleeing a town on the border with Afghanistan following three days of fighting which has killed up to 250 people, locals and military officials said today.
About 90% of the population of Mir Ali, a town of 50,000 people in the lawless north Waziristan region, has fled the fighting using cars and tractors or on foot, a local man told the Reuters news agency.

“Just one or two people are staying behind in each house to guard their belongings,” Sher Khan said.

About 50 suspected al-Qaida and Taliban-linked militants were killed in a new wave of air strikes today close to Mir Ali, an army spokesman said.

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