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Fighting continues in Wana, 56 killed
Pakistani tribesmen traded heavy rocket and mortar fire with foreign Al Qaeda militants in a border region for a second day on Friday, leaving 56 people dead, said the Interior Minister on Friday. Explosions could be heard in Wana, the capital of the lawless South Waziristan, a day after a ceasefire between the tribesmen and the mainly Uzbek and Chechen rebels broke down. Violence first erupted in the mountainous region on March 19 when a Taliban commander-turned-government supporter, Maulvi Nazir, ordered foreign insurgents led by wanted rebel Tahir Yuldashev to disarm, leaving 160 people dead last week. Fifty-four people were killed today (and) two yesterday. They include 45 foreigners, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao told AFP. The fighting is going on it intensified today after peace talks failed. Tribes are insisting on their demand that these people either surrender or quit the area. An aide to Maulvi Nazir earlier told AP over the telephone that local tribesmen had killed 35 Uzbeks and lost 10 of their own men. The government says the latest developments reflect the success of its policy to encourage local tribesmen to expel foreign Islamic extremists, instead of costly and politically damaging army operations. Earlier, a security official said tribesmen overnight seized control of a school that foreigners were using as their base in Ghawakha, a town near Wana, killing seven Uzbeks. Another official said three tribal fighters were also killed and six wounded in the fighting. Residents said the militants also shot dead a local man who was travelling in the area on his bike. The latest clashes were concentrated in Azam Warsak, Shen Warsak and Kalusha areas of South Waziristan. Residents say between 300 and 500 Uzbeks and Chechens are holed up in the area. They said the Uzbeks were effectively under siege in the mountainous terrain as all roads leading to the troubled towns were being controlled by tribal commander Mullah Nazir. A tribal leader, Haji Sharif, ruled out any negotiations with the foreigners on Thursday. Yuldashev, the Uzbek leader, was formerly a close confidant of Osama Bin Laden, according to officials. Posted by: Fred 2007-03-31 |
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