Around 50 Pakistani soldiers missing in Waziristan

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, Oct 8 (Reuters) The Pakistan army said today that up to 50 soldiers were missing after fierce fighting with pro-Taliban militants over the weekend in the North Waziristan tribal region, near the border with Afghanistan capital, Islamabad.

The violence has reinforced opposition among many Pakistanis, mainly in the conservative northwest, to President Pervez Musharraf's support for the US-led war on terrorism.

Musharraf, who won most votes in a presidential election on Saturday, has said terrorism and extremism were the biggest challenges to the country and has called for reconciliation among moderate political parties to tackle it.

REUTERS PD HT1838