Military on fighting between army and militants in NW Pakistan

Описание: (5 Mar 2006)
1. Major General Shaukat Sultan arrives for news conference, sits down
2. Camera crew
3. Wide shot of news conference
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Major General Shaukat Sultan, Pakistani army spokesman:
"So in the morning the army struck the camp, knocked it out and then the special operation task force, it landed, it carried out the search, and in this operation we presume that more than 45 militants have been killed. Thirty-five of them, around 35 or more, are known to be foreigners, and ten are known to be their local facilitators."
5. Reporters
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Major General Shaukat Sultan, Pakistani army spokesman:
"But now the writ of the government was completely challenged, they had almost taken over the bazaar area. They were firing on the camp so it was important for the security forces to respond."
7. Exterior of news conference venue
STORYLINE:
Pro-Taliban tribesmen fought security forces in Pakistan on Sunday, forcing hundreds of people to flee Miran Shah, a town in the northwest of the country.
Speaking in Rawalpindi, army spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan, said that more than 45 militants were believed to have been killed.
"Thirty five of them, around 35 or more, are known to be foreigners, and 10 are known to be their local facilitators," he added.
The heavy fighting - some of the worst in the North Waziristan region in years - started on Saturday and died down early on Sunday in the area, Sultan said.
The area has long been a trouble spot, where well-armed, fiercely independent tribes have long resisted government control.
"The writ of the government was completely challenged, they had almost taken over the bazaar area," Sultan said.
There was sporadic firing on Sunday afternoon in Miran Shah, he added.
The latest fighting was about 300 kilometres (190 miles) southwest of Islamabad, where US President George W. Bush made a 24-hour weekend visit and declared his solidarity with Pakistan in the war on terror.
Pakistan has deployed about 80,000 security forces along the Afghan frontier, but has failed to assert the government's control in these tribal regions which have resisted outside influence for centuries.
Waziristan is known as a hotbed of al-Qaida and Taliban militants who draw support from the local Pashtun tribal people.
Many of the rebellious tribesmen involved in Saturday's unrest are believed to be Islamic students, referred to as "local Taliban," reflecting their sympathies with the hardline militia in Afghanistan.

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