Pakistan: Up to 700 militants killed

The Pakistani government says the country's military offensive against militancy claims the lives of up to 700 militants in northwestern Pakistan. Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters on Monday that 20 Pakistani soldiers were also killed in fighting against the militants. The minister added that the operations would continue to completely destroy the militants. The military has already deployed over 15-thousand troops to the conflict zones in the Buner and Dir districts as well as the Swat Valley. Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan's military -- backed by helicopter gunships and heavy artillery -- pounded militants hideouts, a Press TV correspondent reported. Islamabad said that the Sunday clashes killed about 200 militants in northwestern Pakistan's Swat Valley. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimated 150,000 to 200,000 civilians had fled the scene of the fighting in the North-West Frontier Province. A UN spokesman warned that "massive displacement" of civilians is likely with government forces using helicopter gunships, tanks and artillery.