15 killed in Pak clashes

The chieftain, Malik Saadullah, is the head of a so-called peace committee responsible for maintaining a truce between security forces and Taliban-supporting militants.

Two of Saadullah8217;s men and an Afghan shopkeeper were killed, the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Shortly afterwards there was another gunfight in which 12 militants were killed, again mostly Uzbeks, he said.

8220;The militants were angered because Saadullah8217;s men had fired at their friends on Monday night,8221; the official said.

Pakistan signed a peace deal with tribal elders and militants in South Waziristan in 2001.