October 09, 2008	Thursday	Shawwal 9, 1429

KHAR, Oct 8: At least eight foreign and 12 local militants were killed in a helicopter attack in Mamond tehsil of Bajaur Agency on Wednesday.

Official sources said militant ‘commanders’ were among those killed in the attack on their position in Badano, the native village of Taliban leader Maulvi Faqir Mohammad.

Witnesses said that eight bodies had been retrieved from the hideout.

Two women and two other non-combatants were wounded in another attack on the village, 22kms northeast of Khar.

The lashkar of Mamond tribe torched the house of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan’s spokesman Maulvi Omar (Syed Mohammad) in Badano.

The houses of some other militants were also set on fire.

Armed volunteers took positions on the main roads to block movement of militants in Mamond area.

Militants blew up houses of three tribesmen, among them a government official, in Tauheedabad on Tuesday night.

Sources said authorities had sent 70 prisoners from Khar to the Haripur central jail. They had been arrested during the military operation.