August 16, 2008	Saturday	Sha'aban 13, 1429

KHAR, Aug 15: At least 35 people were killed when helicopter gunships attacked militants in several areas of Bajaur Agency on Friday.

Sources said that Maulvi Faqeer Mohammad, a lieutenant of Baitullah Mehsud, had narrowly escaped a helicopter attack on some vehicles in Damadola on Thursday. His 11 supporters, some foreigners among them, were killed and two vehicles were destroyed.

An associate of Faqeer Mohammad confirmed that several militant commanders had been killed.

The sources said militants’ headquarters at Savei in Mamond tehsil was heavily bombed, killing 11 people.

The building housed a so-called ‘Sharia court,’ a private jail and a store of weapons and ammunition.

In another attack, the office of local Taliban in a seminary was hit. The Taliban had installed an FM radio station at the seminary run by Maulvi Muneer.

Witnesses said that militants attacked helicopters with anti-aircraft guns in Saddiqabad near Khar. At least five of the assailants were killed when the helicopters returned fire.

In Mamond tehsil, at least 10 militants were killed and 12 others wounded.

An abandoned checkpoint and several shops had been blown up in Saddiqabad on Thursday night.

The sources said militants had planted improvised explosive devices along the Jar-Kikkot highway to prevent the movement of security personnel.

Meanwhile, political authorities said about 3,000 displaced families had left the area and crossed the Thoorghundai checkpoint on Friday.