Local and foreign militants fought a gunbattle in north-western Pakistan, leaving at least 46 dead, officials said. This is the second such clash this month in a region where the government is urging tribesmen to move against al-Qaida-linked fighters.Reportedly, at least two children were also killed and about 20 wounded when a stray mortar from the fighting in South Waziristan hit a school bus.The clash between Uzbek militants and tribesmen broke out near the town of Wana on Monday and continued on Tuesday, said a senior military official and a government official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they are unauthorised to make media comments. They could not furnish further details on the the 46 dead.No Pakistan army spokesman was immediately available for comment.But the two officials, speaking in Islamabad, said the clash was between pro-government tribesmen and foreign militants. However, a local intelligence official said the fighting was part of a feud among rival militant groups.A clash between tribesmen and Central Asian militants in South Waziristan earlier this month killed 18 people.Pakistan’s government, an ally in the US-led war on terrorism,has long urged tribesmen to expel Central Asian and Arab militants and faces fresh US concern that al-Qaida is regrouping in an area viewed as a haven for Taliban fighters operating in neighbouring Afghanistan.The local intelligence official said fighting broke out on Monday over the killing of an unidentified Arab with suspected links to al-Qaeda. The Arab’s body was found on the outskirts of Wana.
