Tuesday, March 28 2006 16:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: At least 23 people were killed and several injured when supporters of two religious leaders fought gun battles in Pakistan's tribal region bordering Afghanistan, an official said today (Mar 28, 2006).

The clashes between followers of Mufti Munir Shakir and Pir Saifur Rehman started yesterday and continued until early this morning in Khyber Agency, some 12 kms from Peshawar, said Shah Zaman, media advisor for the tribal region.

The gunfight erupted when supporters of Shakir attacked the house of a follower of Rehman, Zaman told sources.

Supporters of Rehman retaliated and killed five of the attackers, leading to more clashes between the two groups.

The clashes left at least 23 people dead.

Zaman said paramilitary force 'Frontier Constabulary' has been deployed there to maintain law and order. But reports reaching here suggested that the situation was still very tense and the authorities had blocked all roads to the area.

Rehman is said to be an Afghan refugee and Geo TV reported that 13 of those died were Afghan nationals.

Thousands of Afghan refugees are living in Pakistan's tribal region, bordering Afghanistan.

Zaman said the two religious groups had established radio stations which were engaged in propaganda against each other.

He said Rehman had agreed to quit the area and close down his radio station after the government asked him to do so. But the Shakir group did not close its radio station and continued propaganda against the rival faction, he added.

Zaman said the government was trying to resolve the conflict through the traditional tribal Jirga or Council of Elders.