Troops enter 'headquarters' town of TTP, Baitullah Mehsud's house demolished

[Naveed Yaseen]

* ISPR says 24 Taliban killed, Baitullah Mehsud’s house demolished in Makeen

By Sajjad Malik

RAWALPINDI: Troops on Friday entered Makeen – considered the headquarters and the last bastion of the Taliban in South Waziristan – as the military killed 24 more Taliban in clashes.

“Today (Friday), security forces moved into Makeen, which is considered the headquarters of the Taliban. A large part of town has been cleared. In the remaining parts, a search-and-clearance operation is underway,” said an ISPR spokesman in a statement, adding that intense clashes were in progress, and Taliban were fleeing the area – leaving behind their weapons and ammunition.

Troops killed at least 21 Taliban in Makeen, where a house owned by Baitullah Mehsud was also demolished.

Security forces are also consolidating their positions around Sararogha, where search-and-clearance operations are underway. Troops killed at least three Taliban when the group fired rockets in Sararogha.

The forces are also consolidating their positions in and around Ladha, and conducting search-and-clearance operations. In Swat, security forces arrested a burqa-clad woman, who was carrying a small machinegun with two magazines. Forces also arrested two Taliban, and found a cache of arms and ammunition. Also, three Taliban surrendered to security forces around Mingora.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg1_4