Pakistan army kills up to 40 militants in attack

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-18-2007 08:11

Pakistani soldiers in Miranshah. Pakistani helicopter gunships and artillery pounded pro-Taliban militant hideouts in a tribal region near the Afghan border, killing up to 40 insurgents.(AFP/File/Aamir Qureshi)

In Pakistan, troops backed by helicopter gunships and artillery have attacked pro-Taliban militants in the country's north.

The army continued attacking militant positions on Saturday in an attempt to drive them from the Swat district. The military says about 40 militants were killed on Friday in three of their strongholds. This raises the number of deaths during the past week of fighting to 100.

Four government soldiers were also killed. The army says it has been "exercising restraint" to avoid civilian casualties in Swat. It also says militants there have been using residents as human shields.

Editor:Du Xiaodan