August 29, 2008	Friday	Sha'aban 26, 1429

KHAR, Aug 28: Security forces killed five militants in fresh attacks on suspected locations in Salarzai tehsil of Bajaur tribal region on Thursday.

Sources said tribesmen killed a militant and captured five others in the Pashat area. A civilian was killed when four shells fell on a house in Siddiqabad.

Security forces targeted locations in Derakai, Raghagan, Ghakhay and Chawatra localities of Salarzai tehsil, killing the five militants.

The sources said that the militants wearing commando uniform blocked roads in Pashat for some time to disrupt a peace jirga called by Salarzai elders. But they ended the blockade and left the area.

Local people said that four mortar shells hit the house of an Afghan national Sherin in the Siddiqabad area, 3km off here, leaving his son Nematullah dead.

The sources said that the peace jirga in Pashat vowed to resist militant activities in the area. Elders from different tribes of Salarzai attended the jirga which was presided over by Malik Matawal Khan.

The jirga extended support to security forces and said that tribesmen would flush out militants from their areas. They vowed that the tribes would stop the Taliban from entering their areas.

Officials said that six militants going to the venue of the jirga stopped by guards deputed by tribesmen and were asked to lay down arms. When they refused the guards opened fire, killing one of the militants and forced others to surrender.

Activists of a peace committee arrested a suspect during patrolling in Khar and handed him over to the authorities. About 600 volunteers have started patrolling the area.

In Siddiqabad, militants blew up a middle school for girls, residents said.