BBC NEWS | South Asia | Militant battle rages in Pakistan

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Militant battle rages in Pakistan: "Fierce fighting is raging for a third day between local and foreign militants in a north-west Pakistan tribal area. More than 50 people have been killed near the South Waziristan town of Wana close to Afghanistan

Most of those killed were Uzbeks with suspected al-Qaeda links, officials say. Local sources say troops have been sent in. The military denies this. The battle west of Wana is between mostly Uzbek fighters and Pashtun tribesmen led by a militant commander called Mullah Nazir. Foreign militants had largely kept themselves to themselves and were not linked to al-Qaeda's anti-Western agenda, but in recent months they are reported to have become more involved in local disputes

Foreign militants had largely kept themselves to themselves and were not linked to al-Qaeda's anti-Western agenda, but in recent months they are reported to have become more involved in local disputes"