Pakistan forces target militant positions, kill 50
Monday, 25 August 2008
MINGORA, (Pakistan), Aug 24 (Reuters): Pakistani troops and helicopter gunships targeted Islamist militant hideouts in the Swat Valley Sunday, the military said, after fierce fighting killed 50 militants and 10 soldiers in the past 24 hours.
Countering growing violence is a test for a fractious coalition government engaged in infighting after staunch US ally Pervez Musharraf quit as president last week.
Security concerns, uncertainty over the government's future and worry about the economy have undermined investor confidence and sent the country's financial markets on a downward spiral.
The clashes in mountainous Swat in Pakistan's northwest erupted after militants attacked a security patrol and a suicide car bomber killed eight policemen elsewhere in the valley.
Countering growing violence is a test for a fractious coalition government engaged in infighting after staunch US ally Pervez Musharraf quit as president last week.
Security concerns, uncertainty over the government's future and worry about the economy have undermined investor confidence and sent the country's financial markets on a downward spiral.
The clashes in mountainous Swat in Pakistan's northwest erupted after militants attacked a security patrol and a suicide car bomber killed eight policemen elsewhere in the valley.