North Waziristan Residents Protest Against Army Shelling

Residents of the Pakistani region of North Waziristan today protested against a Pakistani Army operation in the region that locals claim killed many civilians. Residents told RFE/RL that more than 40 civilians have died in army shelling since December 19. But Pakistani Army officials said that the operations killed 27 militants, including foreign terrorists. They did not offer any information on civilian casualties. The army operation began after a suicide bomber struck a checkpoint near the town of Mir Ali. (RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal)