28 September 2004	Tuesday	12 Shaban 1425

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WANA, Sept 27: Militants attacked a military convoy in South Waziristan with three remote-controlled explosive devices on Monday, killing five soldiers and wounding 10 others, officials said.

They said that militants carried out the attack in the Sarwekai area, about 50km east of Wana, the regional headquarters. The area is largely inhabited by the Mahsud tribe.

The officials said that militants exploded the remote-controlled devices in the Serwakai area when the convoy, comprising 70 vehicles, was passing through the area. The troops were heading towards Bannu from Wana.

"At least three devices went off, killing five soldiers on the spot," an official said. He confirmed that 10 soldiers suffered injuries who were immediately taken to the Combined Military Hospital, Bannu.

During recent clashes, militants ambushed a military convoy in the Sarwekai area in which a number of soldiers had been killed and three vehicles destroyed. A tribal militant, Abdullah Mahsud, had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Residents said that security forces had encircled various villages in the area and also blocked road between Wana and Tank district. Meanwhile, a jirga held meeting with five wanted militants - Mohammad Sharif, Maulana Abdul Aziz, Noorul Islam, Maulvi Abbas and Mohammad Javed, at an undisclosed location in South Waziristan.

A retired official of a secret agency, Inamullah Khan Wazir, who is heading the jirga, has expressed satisfaction over the progress in talks with the wanted men. But he declined to give details. He told Dawn that they were making progress and the issue would be resolved amicably.