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Militants killed in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Military jets and artillery pounded suspected militant hide-outs in two towns in Pakistan’s northwest on Sunday, killing 27 fighters, officials said.

Elsewhere in the volatile region, a citizens’ militia killed seven suspected militants.

As the violence raged, President Asif Alil Zardari claimed the entire country backs the battle against the extremists.

The military has stepped up strikes in the past week on suspected militant bases in Bajur, where violence has spiked again almost five months after the military declared victory after a month-long offensive.

Two local government officials, Iqbal Khan and Nawaz Khan, said bombs dropped from planes on targets in Salarzai town killed 13 militants. In nearby Charmang, shelling killed 14 militants, the officials said.

The military has attacked targets in Charmang several times in the past week.

In nearby Upper Dir, a citizens’ militia engaged in a two-hour clash with militants that killed seven and wounded one, police said.

Ejaz Ahmed, police chief in the Upper Dir region, said the fighting occurred late Saturday night near the village of Patrak, about seven km east of Dir Khas, the region’s main town and district headquarters. — AP

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