Pakistan army clash with Taliban

The army began its offensive in South Waziristan about two weeks ago

Heavy clashes between Pakistani troops and Taliban fighters are going on in the key town of Ladha in the South Waziristan region, the army says.

It says they have cleared a major part of the strategic Sararogha region after taking it from the Taliban on Tuesday.

The army said 30 militants have been killed in the continuing offensive against militants which began in the region on 17 October.

There is no independent confirmation of the claims.

The area is out of bounds for journalists.

The assault has sparked a string of suicide bombings in Pakistan and about 300 people have died in attacks since mid-October.

Earlier on Wednesday a group of militants ambushed a van near Khar, the main town in the Bajaur tribal region, killing two women teachers and wounding two other passengers.

'Nerve centre'

"Today the security forces advanced into the stronghold of militants, the town of Ladha, amidst heavy clashes and street to street fighting," the Pakistani military said in a statement.

The military offensive has sparked a string of suicide attacks

It said 10 militants had been killed in the fighting.

Troops are securing the surrounding ridges and heights in the area, the statement said.

During search operation at Mingora Sar, weapons and ammunition were recovered, it said.

The military said "security forces have cleared a major part of Sararogha".

Sararogha is said to be a Taliban operational "nerve centre".

During engagements, 16 militants were killed and seven soldiers were injured, the statement added.

Another four militants were killed during an operation in the Razmak- Makeen area, the army said.

'Surrender'

Security forces have also begun search and clearance operations at Kaniguram, one of the Taliban's key regional strongholds, which the army said it took on Monday.

Separately, the army said 21 suspected militants had been taken into custody from the Swat area.

The army said 10 militants had "voluntarily surrendered" and a large number of arms and ammunition had been seized in the area.

Pakistan's government has offered rewards totalling $5m (£3m) for information leading to the capture of Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, two other Taliban leaders and 15 commanders.

It said Mr Mehsud's Tehrik-e-Taliban group was involved in acts of terrorism that were causing the death of innocent Muslims on a daily basis.

There has been a spate of violence in Pakistan since the beginning of the operation in South Waziristan.

Last week more than 100 people were killed when a huge car bomb ripped through a busy market in Peshawar.

The violence led the United Nations to announce on Monday it was withdrawing international staff from north-west Pakistan.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement the decision had been taken "bearing in mind the intense security situation in the region".