US drones, Pak Army target militant strongholds; 30 killed

At least 30 militants, including a top Taliban commander, were killed in Pakistan's restive
northwest and the adjoining tribal belt where a US drone fired missiles targeting a militant hideout and the Army continued its air and ground offensive.

In Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud's stronghold of South Waziristan, 13 militants were killed and several others injured when a US drone fired three missiles at a militant camp in Sarokai, even as conflicting reports emerged about the crash of an army helicopter in a region near Afghan border.

Another missile was fired at a madrassa in Mantoi area though no casualties were reported as the seminary was closed, TV channels reported.

Thirteen militants, including a commander named Naeemullah, were killed in clashes with security forces and a Lashkar or tribal militia in the Swat valley and adjoining Dir area over the past 24 hours.

Five militants were killed on Friday in air strikes by Pakistani combat jets in North Waziristan tribal region.

An army cargo helicopter crashed in Orakzai Agency because of a "technical fault," chief military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told reporters. He said there was "no confirmation of casualties".

However, a Taliban spokesman told Samaa news channel that the helicopter was shot down by militants and the pilot was captured by the Taliban.