Pak army helicopters attack militant hideouts in tribal region

Witnesses said the gunships targeted hideouts in Spinkai Raghzai. The town is a stronghold of tribal militant commander Abdullah Mahsud, the man behind the recent kidnapping of two Chinese engineers.

"I saw two helicopters firing into the town early this morning but I am not aware of any casualties," resident Dost Mohammad told AFP by telephone.

No immediate confirmation of the raid was available from military officials.

On Tuesday militants believed to be Mahsud loyalists attacked an army convoy, killing five soldiers and wounding seven.

Initial reports put the toll at three soldiers dead and five injured.

Mahsud, a former prisoner at Guantanamo Bay, is being hunted for the abduction of two Chinese engineers, which ended last Thursday when commandos killed five kidnappers and rescued one Chinese. The other Chinese died of bullet wounds suffered during the rescue.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said the kidnap mastermind would be brought to justice and severely punished.

The military has launched several previous operations in the wild South Waziristan region against hundreds of militants, including foreigners, who are believed to be hiding there with local help.

On Tuesday the head of operations for the tribal territory gave a new casualty count.

Lieutenant General Safadr Hussain said 246 militants including 100 foreigners had been killed along with 171 soldiers since March.