Upto 80 militants killed in Pakistan strike-army

ISLAMABAD, Oct 30 (Reuters) Up to 80 suspected militants were killed in a dawn attack by Pakistani army helicopters on a madrasa run by a pro-Taliban commander wanted for harbouring al Qaeda fighters near the Afghan border, an army spokesman said.

''According to our local sources, up to 80 deaths have been confirmed,'' Major-General Shaukat Sultan told Reuters.

No prominent militant was believed to be in the compound in Chenagai village, 10 km north of Khar, the main town in the Bajaur tribal region, when it was attacked, he said.

A senior security official said Maulana Liaqatullah, the pro-Taliban principal of the seminary, was among those killed.

REUTERS SAM DS1301