MINGORA, Aug 30: The death toll in two days of fighting in Swat climbed to 40 as security forces continued to pound militant positions in the Peochar area of the valley on Saturday.

Military spokesman in Swat Major Nasir Ali said that about 40 militants were killed and as many injured in the past 24 hours.

Jet fighters and helicopter gunships bombarded the suspected positions in the Matta tehsil.

He said in accordance with the directives of high-ups in the NWFP government and Pakistan Army, the security forces targeted suspected hideouts. He said the operation would continue till the writ of the government was established and militants flushed out of the area.

However, Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said only five people, most of them civilians, were killed in the strikes.

Talking to newsmen in Peochar, he admitted that commander Mufti Saeedur Rehman and another militant were among the dead. However, he rejected the reports about the death of Maulana Fazlullah, saying he was safe.

Two deceased were civilians, he said, adding that only eight houses were destroyed in the bombing.

Local people said that a journalist, Abdul Aziz, who had been in the Taliban captivity, was also killed in the attack. His funeral was held at his home town of Khariray in the Matta tehsil, they added.—Correspondent