Friday, March 20, 2009

Curfew in Landi Kotal after clashes


LANDI KOTAL: The Khyber political administration imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Landi Kotal and adjoining areas on Friday after fierce clashes between troops and militants left 10 people dead and 41 injured.Officials said that a warehouse, about two dozen houses, a private school, a government-run rehabilitation centre and offices of a private TV channel were damaged.The clashes followed a rocket attack on an army base on Thursday night, and troops pounded militants’ positions on Friday.
A large number of people are reported to have left the affected area and moved to Jamrud and Peshawar. This was the militants’ first massive attack in the area close to the Afghan border.The militants first fired two rockets on the base and then a barrage of rockets and mortars were fired from three sides.Local people said that heavy artillery, mortars and rockets were used by both sides. Residential areas and commercial centres suffered severe damage.

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