04 April 2004	Sunday	13 Safar 1425

PESHAWAR, April 3: Panic gripped the South Waziristan tribal region following a series of explosions that occurred at a shop in the Azam Warsak bazaar on Saturday, where according to officials explosives had been stored.

The officials confirmed that the entire area of the Azam Warsak was rocked by a string of explosions that continued till filing of this report.

Three shops near the site of the explosions were on fire as small explosions occurred with intervals, witnesses said. However, no reports of casualties in the area were received.

Serious fighting took place in the volatile Azam Warsak near the Afghan border recently when army troops started massive operation against foreign militants and their tribal supporters

Secretary to the NWFP Governor on Fata Security Affairs Brig Mahmood Shah said here it was believed that the explosions occurred when ammunition were being loaded on a pick-up truck.

He said that explosions were still going on in the bazaar and local people were making efforts to control the fire. He said there was no report of casualties.