Pakistan kills 15-20 militants in raid on camp

ISLAMABAD, June 10 (Reuters) Pakistani security forces attacked a militant hideout near the Afghan border today, killing up to 20 militants, an army spokesman said.

Pakistan is trying to clear its rugged, semi-autonomous border lands of militants, many of whom fled there after US and Afghan opposition forces ousted the Taliban's Kabul government in late 2001.

The compound, attacked with artillery and helicopters, was near Dattakhel village, in the North Waziristan region on the Afghan border, said the spokesman, Major-General Shaukat Sultan.

An attack was launched before dawn and about 70 percent of the compound was destroyed, he said.

''We believe we killed 15 to 20 miscreants,'' he said.

The militants at the camp were believed to be foreigners and their Pakistani allies, he said. Foreign al Qaeda supporters, ncluding many from Central Asia, are known to be taking refuge in the area.

Clashes have intensified in the region since an air strike on an al Qaeda compound in early March.

Altogether security forces have killed more than 300 militants, including about 75 foreigners, in North Waziristan since the middle of last year.

REUTERS KD RK1005