Pakistan raid kills 12 militants on eve of tribal council

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 8(AFP): Pakistan said Wednesday at least 12 militants were killed in a raid on a remote region near Afghanistan, as tribal elders prepared for a landmark council to rally support against Taliban rebels.
The military said that mortars were also fired during the attack Tuesday on a militant hideout some 20 kilometres (13 miles) west of Miranshah, the main town in the restive North Waziristan tribal district.
"There are unconfirmed reports that six to eight Arabs, Tajiks and Chechens were among the militants killed in the operation," chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told AFP.
Arshad said around 10 militants were also wounded.