HOUSE TO HOUSE SEARCH IN WAZIRISTAN: Pakistan troops comb Mehsud stronghold

SRI LANKA DAILY NEWS: Pakistan troops comb Bhutto suspect's stronghold

Pakistani troops on Friday combed mountains in the volatile tribal stronghold of an Al-Qaeda-linked militant blamed by Islamabad and Washington for the killing of Benazir Bhutto. ...

The army said it had fired artillery and mortar rounds on Friday targeting militant hideouts from which troops had come under fire overnight in South Waziristan.

"A house-to-house search operation is underway in the areas where the security forces have consolidated their positions," chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told AFP. No loss of life was reported in the latest skirmishes in the troubled region, which is described by the United States as a sanctuary for Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.

In the past few days of the offensive, Pakistani forces have also used gunship helicopters to strike the hideouts of Mehsud's tribal followers.

• I THINK MUSHARRAF WILL SOON GET MESHUD - AND BINLADEN AND ZAWAHIRI.
  
• MUSHARRAF'S OWN FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT.
• A CAPTURE OF ONE WILL GUARANTEE MUSHARRAF'S ALLIES ELECTORAL VICTORY.