Blast, shooting heard in Pakistani tribal town

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, Apr 15 (Reuters) A powerful blast, followed by shooting was heard today in Miranshah, the main town in a Pakistani tribal region close to the Afghan border, a Reuters witness said.

''There was a huge explosion and then firing broke out. The market is being closed,'' the witness said, adding that it was unclear what had caused the blast.

Miranshah, in North Waziristan, has been scene of fierce clashes between Pakistani forces and al Qaeda-linked militants and their local allies in recent weeks in which more than 250 people have been killed.

On Wednesday night, the army killed an Egyptian al Qaeda member, wanted for involvement in the 1998 bombing of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, just a few miles south of Miranshah.

REUTERS SHB PM1819