Pakistani border death toll rises

BBC

At least 45 Pakistani soldiers and 150 pro-Taleban militants have died in three days of fierce fighting in North Waziristan, the Pakistani army says.

It is the heaviest fighting in the Waziristan region, which borders Afghanistan, for many months.

US and Nato forces in Afghanistan have repeatedly said that Pakistan is not doing enough to stop militants crossing the border to attack their troops.

The militants have vowed to overthrow President Musharraf.

The three days of fighting is centred around the town of Mir Ali.

The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that Mir Ali is known as a base for foreign militants with links to the Taleban and al-Qaeda.

The violence has been escalating since mid-July when a ceasefire between the army and the militants broke down.

Access for journalists to the tribal areas is restricted and it is impossible to independently verify the casualty figures.....