Defiant Pakistani militants blow up checkpoints

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Pakistani tribesmen gather at the security post destroyed by militants in Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan tribal region Tuesday.

MIRANSHAH, (Pakistan), July 17 (AFP): Pro-Taliban militants Tuesday rebuffed the Pakistani government's efforts to save a peace deal in a tense tribal area, and blew up two security checkpoints in a sign of defiance.
Rebels handed out pamphlets from a car overnight in North Waziristan saying that they had torn up the 10-month-old pact because the government had set up new checkposts and failed to pay compensation for army operations.
The move has increased security fears after suicide bombers in nearby areas killed 70 people at the weekend, in apparent retaliation for the military's crushing of an uprising at the Red Mosque in Islamabad last week.
"We agreed on the peace deal with the government for the protection of the people. Now we are breaking the peace agreement again in favour of the people," said the leaflet, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.
The statement, signed by the Taliban Shura (council), warned tribal paramilitary forces and traders supplying the army not to cooperate with government forces or "otherwise they are also our targets."
It asked tribal elders and others "not to have jirgas (meetings) with the government; if not, then they will be responsible."
Late Monday a paramilitary checkpost was destroyed by a blast in the central bazaar of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, and hours later another was blown up near a government building.
There were no casualties, officials said.
Thousands of residents have already fled the area fearing further violence in the region, where militants have blown up music and barber shops in an attempt to enforce Islamic law.