40 militants captured, bodies of 10 found in Pak tribal area

ISLAMABAD: At least 40 militants were captured and bodies of 10 others recovered by Pakistani security forces in the country's restive tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, a military spokesman said on Saturday.
    
The militants were captured last night in Chakmalai area of South Waziristan tribal agency, military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said.
    
Bodies of 10 militants were also found from the area, which has been cleared of insurgents, he said, a day after security forces killed up to 90 pro-Taliban rebels in two clashes in the troubled tribal belt.
    
Meanwhile, a firefight between the militants and security forces in Ladha Fort, an outpost manned by Frontier Corps personnel, which erupted on Friday continued throughout the night with the troops using artillery to target the insurgents.
    
"The operation in South Waziristan will continue till we clear the region of militants," the military spokesman said,
    
The area where the Ladha fort is located is a stronghold of the Mehsud tribe and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan commander Baitullah Mehsud. President Pervez Musharraf has blamed Mehsud for masterminding a string of suicide attacks, including the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto, and recruiting and training suicide bombers in South Waziristan.
    
Mehsud has denied involvement in Bhutto's killing.