Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad: An uneasy calm prevailed today in the Swat valley of northwestern Pakistan, where nearly 80 people have been killed in clashes between security forces and militant followers of a pro-Taliban cleric and scores others have fled from the region.

The reopening of roads, which had been blocked by security forces since Friday last in the wake of the fighting, prompted more people to flee from the areas around Imamdheri, the stronghold of radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah, to other parts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

There have been no fresh exchanges of gun fire following announcement of a "temporary" ceasefire by the militants yesterday, officials said. Bodies of several militants and at least five security personnel, who were killed in the fighting, were retrieved after the truce came into force.

The Army had earlier said that up to 60 militants were killed in the clashes till Sunday. NWFP Home Secretary Badshah Gul Wazir said 20 security personnel and civilians had died since Friday while another 12 security personnel were missing.

A shoora or council of the militants met today and reviewed the situation. A militant spokesman claimed security officials are not ready to talk to them to discuss steps to restore peace in the region.

He said this had compelled the militants to involve local elders for handing over the bodies of security personnel.

Source : PTI