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9 militants killed in Swat valley

AFP, Peshawar/Khar
At least nine militants and a soldier were killed in exchanges of fire in Pakistan's northwest while 10 people were killed in gun battles between Taliban militants and pro-government tribal j leaders in the same region yesterday.
The military is waging a bloody offensive against al-Qaeda and theTaliban in Pakistan's northwest, the army said.
The fighting in the scenic Swat valley erupted a day after a suicide bomber killed at least three troops when he rammed an explosives-packed vehicle into an army checkpost in the area.
"Security forces pounded artillery on hideouts of rebels in the Kabal area of Swat which triggered exchange of fire, killing seven militants,'' army said in a statement.
Separately, one soldier was killed in another gun fight in the region when a patrol of security forces came under attack by militants linked to Taliban and al - Qaeda in Kan ju area.
"Twenty seven suspected militants were also arrested dunng a search operation in Kanju area.' the statement said.
It added that two more militants were killed and five others wounded during clashes with the security forces in Mian Keley village bordering Mohmand tribal region.
The mountainous Swat valley was until last year a popu -I ar tourist destination, featuring Pakistan s only ski resort
But the region has been turned into a battleground since Maulana Fazlullah, who has links to Pakistan's Taliban movement, launched a violent campaign for the introduction of Islamic Sharia law.
Earlier at least 10 people have been killed in gun battles between Taliban militants and pro-government tribal leaders in a northwestern Pakistani tribal town, officials said Tuesday
The militants intercepted a convoy carrying 12 pro-government Mamoun tribe elders in Bajaur district near the Afghan border on Monday as they headed for talks with offi-
:ials, local government official star Khan told AFP
The tribesmen opened fire ind killed three militants ncluding their commander, he >aid.
The group of elders, which eads an anti-militant tribal orce known as a lashkar, then ook refuge in a guest house belonging to a local tribal chief, rear the region's main town Khar.
But more militants joined the insurgents, and they besieged the house and demanded the influential local chief, named Ismail Khan, hand □ver the tribal elders.
“They opened fire with assault rifles and lobbed hand grenades inside, killing four elders and three servants of the tribal chief," Israr Khan said.
A security official speaking on condition of anonymity said the militants abducted eight tribal elders who had taken refuge at the house, but three of them managed toescape.
A Taliban spokesman said the abducted elders included the tribal chief Ismail Khan.
The elders formed the lashkar last month to take action against militants hiding in the area, whom local tribesmen say are undermining their control.
Pakistan's tribal belt became a safe haven for hundreds of extremists who fled Afghanistan after the US-led toppling of the hardline Taliban regime in late 2001.
The Pakistani military is currently fighting Taliban and a!-Qaeda-linked militants in the Bajaur tribal district, where officials say more than 1,500 rebels have been killed and hundreds more captured since August