The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Wana

Pakistani military gunship helicopters opened fire on two cars near a contested fort near the Afghan border, killing eight Islamist militants, the army said on Friday.

The incident happened on Thursday near a military outpost at Siplatoi in the troubled tribal region of South Waziristan, in the latest unrest to grip the US-allied nation ahead of elections on February 18.

Local newspapers quoted a Pakistani Taliban spokesman as saying that Siplatoi fort had earlier fallen to the rebels, but the army denies the claim and says it is still controlled by troops. "Gunship helicopters engaged two cars in the vicinity of Siplatoi Fort. Reportedly, eight miscreants were killed," an army statement said.

"Media reports saying that Siplatoi has been taken over by miscreants are incorrect as Frontier Corps troops are still manning the fort."

Troops traded rocket and artillery fire with rebels early Friday for the second night in a row at another fort in the region, near the village of Ladha, but said there were no casualties or damage.

Hundreds of militants overran a third fort in South Waziristan, in the town of Sararogha, in the early hours of Wednesday, leaving seven soldiers dead and 15 missing.