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Monday, Dec 10, 2007
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Suicide bomber kills seven in Swat

Nirupama Subramanian

ISLAMABAD: A day after the Pakistan Army said it had cleared Swat in the North West Frontier Province of almost all Islamist militants, a suicide bomber struck, killing at least six persons in the scenic valley.

Two children and a policeman were among the killed when the bomber rammed his car into a checkpost and blew himself up.

On Saturday, the Pakistan Army, which took some international journalists to Swat on a controlled media tour on Saturday, said it had killed 290 militants and arrested 150 in the operation that began two weeks ago, and is still ongoing.

Fazlullah at large

It said five soldiers and six civilians had been killed in the operation until now, and 20 civilians were wounded.

The Army said it had used 20,000 troops backed by helicopter gunships and artillery to drive militants out of their strongholds, but their leader, Mullah Fazlullah is still at large. Also named “Radio Mullah” after his illegal radio station over which he broadcasted fiery Islamist propaganda, Mullah Fazlullah is reported to have spoken over his radio once again on Saturday to counter rumours that he had been arrested.

The cleric admitted to being injured during the fighting, but pledged to continue his rebellion, whose aim he said, was to bring in Sharia law in Swat and neighbouring districts. “We have no other objective except Sharia,” he was quoted by the News as saying.

A major-general, who spoke to the reporters during their tour of Swat, said Mullah Fazlullah had been involved with Al-Qaeda.

The Army estimates that200 to 400 “hardcore” militantsare withhim, and that they have retreated into the mountains surrounding Swat. According to the officer, the Army would give chase to the militants.

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