Taliban consolidates Buner Valley hold

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, April 11 (UPI) -- Taliban forces in northwestern Pakistan have consolidated their hold on the Buner Valley, taking control of new areas there, witnesses said.

Government security forces offered no resistance as militants occupied the houses of community leaders who were organizing an anti-Taliban group, Pakistan's English-language newspaper Dawn reported Saturday.

"They have taken control of vast areas in Buner," a man who lives near the shrine of Pir Baba told Dawn. "They are freely moving around while police and other law-enforcement personnel remain confined to their posts," he said, adding that the militants had broken a promise to leave Buner after holding marches there.

Witnesses said the Taliban militants set fire to television sets, pictures, paintings, and audio and video cassettes before holding Friday prayers, also locking Pir Baba shrine, stopping its followers from visiting the place, the newspaper reported.