'Many killed' in Pakistan clash

A tribal council has called for the eviction of the Uzbeks

At least 44 people have died in fierce fighting in Pakistan's tribal region of South Waziristan, officials say.

The fighting took place after heavily armed local tribesmen began to act on a tribal council edict to drive out foreign militants linked to al-Qaeda.

Reports says Pakistan's army is also involved, and that three soldiers have been killed.

Officials say more than 200 people have died in more than two weeks of battles between tribesmen and Uzbek militants.

Locals say the number is lower.

Final push

The latest fighting began early on Wednesday when tribal forces attacked several positions held by Uzbek militants.

The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says some 1,000 Pashtun tribesmen armed with rockets, mortars and machine guns answered a call from a tribal council for a final push against the foreign fighters.

Hundreds of Uzbek militants live in South Waziristan. For many years, many of them have been allies of the local tribesmen who also support the Taleban.

The government has signed peace deals in South and North Waziristan in which the tribal elders have agreed to disarm or evict their foreign guests and to stop militants crossing the border to fight foreign troops in Afghanistan.

Officials say the fighting shows this strategy is working but some observers believe the government has helped instigate the battles by, for instance, spreading negative propaganda about the Uzbeks.

Local tribesmen have also accused the Uzbeks of not respecting their culture.

Locals report that soldiers have been helping the tribesmen, although the army denies this.

There are also some tribesmen fighting alongside the Uzbeks.