Dozen militants killed in Pakistan clashes

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PESHAWAR, June 2 (AFP): More than a dozen militants were killed Wednesday in a district where Pakistan declared an end to major combat operations hours earlier after a two-month assault, security officials said.
Helicopter gunships shelled suspected Taliban hideouts near the towns of Kaasha and Toti Mela in the northwest Orakzai tribal district, killing seven militants, local administration official Sajjad Ahmed the news agency.
More than a dozen militants attacked an army checkpost in the Shahu Khel area in which two soldiers were wounded, the official said.
"Troops retaliated killing six militants and wounding eight. The attack was launched by a group of 15-20 militants," Ahmed said.
Other security officials said 20 militants were killed and 12 wounded in helicopter gunship attacks and ground clashes in upper parts of Orakzai.