Pakistan forces, militants clash near Afghan border

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, March 4 (Reuters) - Fierce fighting broke out on Saturday between Pakistani security forces and pro-Taliban militants in a tribal region near the Afghan border, residents and an intelligence official said.

The fighting erupted after the militants seized one government building and attacked others in Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan region, they said.

"A heavy exchange of fire is going on between the two sides. At least three helicopter gunships are also being used by the army," a resident said.

"We don't know about losses because it is dark and there is no electricity or telephone available," he said. "I can see a huge cloud of smoke billowing out of the town's market."

The fighting erupted in Miranshah and nearby areas as U.S. President George W. Bush was visiting Pakistan for talks with President Pervez Musharraf on the war on terrorism.

It underlined the problems Musharraf faces in the semi-autonomous, conservative, ethnic Pashtun tribal area.

Pashtuns inhabit both sides of the border with Afghanistan and many people support the Taliban, most of whose leaders and rank-and-file are Pashtun.

Many al Qaeda members and supporters fled to Pakistan's remote border region after U.S. and Afghan opposition forces ousted the Taliban in late 2001.

The Pakistani army said 45 militants suspected of links to al Qaeda were killed in a security force raid on a hideout in the same area on Wednesday.

Afghanistan's U.S.-backed government has often complained of Taliban and other militants infiltrating from the Pakistani side of the border to attack its forces and U.S. and other foreign troops.

An intelligence official said the militants began the fighting with attacks on government buildings with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic rifles.

"First the communication system broke down and then missiles began flying in all directions," said the official, who declined to be identified.

The militants were led by a powerful Islamist cleric, Maulana Abdul Khaliq Haqqani, the official said.

Government forces had responded with an attack on an Islamist school, or madrasa, run by Haqqani, he said.

"It is apparently blown up but it is not clear whether Haqqani was there or not."

Militants also launched attacks in the nearby town of Mir Ali, he said.

Residents said Miranshah had been tense since Wednesday's fighting and hundreds of families had moved out fearing more bloodshed.

Earlier on Saturday, Haqqani told reporters politicians from the area would be killed if they contacted the central government's top official in the region.