ISLAMABAD, May 24 As street battles continued in Mingora, troops secured control of some important areas and major intersections in the largest city of Swat on Sunday.

They also captured Kamber town, known as the gateway to the Mingora.

“Wattakai, Nawakilli, Nishat, Sirafe, Gulshan, Green, Haji Baba and Sohrab areas in Mingora have been secured as the security forces continue to make advances in the city,” military spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas told Dawn.

Five terrorists were killed in various areas of the city and 14 others were arrested. He said stores of arms and ammunition had also been found. In some areas, security forces encountered 12 improvised explosive devices, four of which were defused.

Gen Abbas said fierce clashes were continuing in Mingora, but the terrorists were retreating.

He said the Malakand-Kanju road which the terrorists had blocked had now been opened and a convoy of security forces had moved to Kanju from Malakand.

He said 10 militants were killed in various areas of Swat in exchanges of fire with security forces, while 14 had been captured. Three personnel laid down their lives and six were injured.

He said troops had entered Peochar village after having surrounded the Peochar valley. Huge stocks of arms were found in militants' hideouts.

A large bomb-making factory has also been found. It was now under the control of security forces. The local people are cooperating with security forces.

Gen Abbas said security forces launched a swift operation in Malam Jabba on receiving information about presence of terrorists. During clashes, five terrorists were killed. Their bodies are lying alongside the road.

He said about 15 truckloads of relief items despatched by armed forces from Khawazakhela had reached Madian, Bahrain and Kalam.

The items include a large quantity of foodstuff for the people stranded in the area.

Meanwhile, the special support group has also sent relief goods (foodstuff and medicines) for the stranded people of Madian, Kalam and adjoining areas.

Fifty tons of rations were distributed by troops among the displaced people on Sunday. So far, the army has donated 510 tons of food from its daily quota. Donated items included flour, pulses, sugar and ghee.

The daily ration is for over 80,000 displaced people.

Five truckloads of foodstuff and other items were distributed among 26,383 displaced people of Garhi Kapoora and six union councils of Takhtaband tehsil. The troops are also asking to provide relief goods to the orphans of Swat living in an orphanage in Peshawar.