Pakistan militia 'battles Taliban': Aljazeera

Members of a pro-government tribal militia have killed at least 23 Taliban fighters in clashes in Pakistan's northwest, local government officials have said.

The fighting began late Monday in the village of Anbar in Pakistan's Mohmand region along the border with Afghanistan.

Syed Ahmad Jan, a senior regional administrator, said local villagers demanded Taliban fighters leave the area, but the Taliban refused and opened fire, sparking a gun battle that continued into Tuesday morning.

At least four tribal militiamen were reported to have been wounded in the fighting.

Mohammad Rasul Khan, a local official, said three villagers were missing after the clashes between the 150-strong village force and Taliban fighters.

Pakistan's government has been encouraging villagers in the country's northwestern tribal regions to form local militias, known as lashkars, to help push Taliban fighters out of their areas.

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