Thousands flee Swat Valley in Pakistan as clashes continue

Thousands of people have been streaming out of the main town in the Swat Valley in north-west Pakistan to escape fierce fighting between the army and Taliban insurgents.

Residents took advantage of the relaxed curfew to leave Swat in whatever way they could, especially its capital Mingora. The army gave them eight hours.

Many clung to the outside of overcrowded buses and trucks.

The army says it wants to clear out the civilians so it can go after the Taliban with full force.

The militants are entrenched in the city, preparing for battle.

Supplies of food water and electricity are scarce, but reports from Swat said not everyone managed to get out because of a lack of transport.

Those who did joined more than 900,000 already uprooted by the conflict in the past three weeks, prompting UN officials to call for urgent emergency aid.

The military commander in North West Frontier Province, General Tariq Khan, says the current military operations will probably be finished in about a month.

"If we continue with resolve and the rest of the agencies as well, I think by the end of the year or so we will see military operations change in policing operations," he said.

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[freeflight07]

Taliban are being supported by Pakistans enemies in Afghanistan, these traitor Muslims are allies of Hindus and traitors to Islam.

Kill all of them and throw out Afghans, after which Pakistan should work to break India up into small pieces.

[sezas]

this is our war, what do you want to do otherwise? Let taliban screw us up while we sit on our asses. Should we let the apply their strict interpretation of sharia? You passive observers.

[mixyguy6]

All Thanks to Musharaf for being a front line ally of the US so called war on terror...and now Pakistan is in front of firing line of CIA trained so called Taliban terrorists....