September 04, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 3, 1429

PARACHINAR, Sept 3: Fierce clashes continued in the Kurram Agency on Wednesday, claiming another 21 lives despite a recent announcement by various tribes to observe a ceasefire.

Forty-one people are reported to have been injured in the clashes. All major tribes, Turi, Parachamkani, Mangal and Alisherzai, had declared a ‘ceasefire’ a couple of days ago, but there has been no let-up in violence.

Reports reaching here said that clashes were continuing in Alizai, Bugzai, Bilyameen and Enzari areas of Kurram.

Local people and hospital sources said that there were 16 ‘non-locals’ among the dead.

The clashes in the region have left more than 400 people dead so far, and destroyed scores of houses.

Elders of the Turi tribe claimed that militants from neighbouring Hangu district and North Waziristan were in the area, attacking local people. They criticised the government for doing nothing to stop the influx of ‘outsiders’.