Pak forces attack militant hideouts

Military spokesman Major-General Shaukat Sultan said "six to eight" people were killed in clashes with the security forces in the rugged South Waziristan tribal region near Afghan border where more than 60 militants died last week.

He said the security forces also suffered a "few" causalities but declined to provide details.

An unnamed government official said two soldiers were killed and two others were wounded in the latest fighting.

Witnesses said the security forces backed by helicopter gunships and artillery attacked suspected hideouts of the militants in the mountains surrounding Laddha and nearby areas in South Waziristan. told Reuters jy telephone.