Pakistan army takes command in Swat

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The Pakistani army reportedly has taken command in Swat from paramilitary forces to fight pro-Taliban militants in the northwest region.

"Yes, the army has taken over command in Swat (as of) Monday and will lead security forces to eliminate militancy," military spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad was quoted as saying in the Tuesday edition of the English-language newspaper Dawn.

The report said army helicopters and ground forces attacked suspected militant positions in the Swat region Monday, killing a militant and a civilian.

The fighting in the picturesque valley, once a popular tourist center, has been going on for weeks. The paramilitary forces have taken heavy losses and the militants were believed to control of 10 percent of the region.

The fighting in Swat also shows the pro-Taliban and pro-al-Qaida insurgency has spread outside of the country's restive tribal areas.

The Swat militants are led by Maulana Fazlullah, a fiery cleric who uses radio broadcasts to reach his supporters. He is believed to have about 4,000 armed supporters.

Arshad told Dawn the army was deployed at the request of the provincial government. The militants have said they will not put down their arms unless the government enforces Sharia in Swat.