Pakistan's military says its helicopter gunships have destroyed a suspected terrorist training facility near the border with Afghanistan, killing up to 80 militants.
The chief military spokesman Shaukat Sultan says Monday's early-morning raid in the Bajaur tribal region targeted an Islamic seminary known as a madrassa where militants were being trained. Security officials said a militant commander Liaquat Hussain with links to al-Qaida was killed in the attack.
The Islamic school was suspected of providing refuge to al-Qaida militants. The spokesman dismissed claims that the air strike killed innocent women and children. .
Protesters in the nearby town of Khar accused the U.S. of being behind the attack and shouted "Death to Bush" and "Death to Musharraf" (referring to Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf).
After the attack, Britain's Prince Charles -- on a week long visit to Pakistan -- cancelled a visit to Peshawar in the northwest, on the advice of Pakistan's government.
Earlier -- he praised Pakistan's efforts to fight terrorism.
Across the border in Afghanistan, a spokesman for the NATO alliance said 55 insurgents and one NATO soldier were killed in a battle today in southern Afghanistan.
NATO forces have been confronting Taleban insurgents in Afgthanistan.
The chief military spokesman Shaukat Sultan says Monday's early-morning raid in the Bajaur tribal region targeted an Islamic seminary known as a madrassa where militants were being trained. Security officials said a militant commander Liaquat Hussain with links to al-Qaida was killed in the attack.
The Islamic school was suspected of providing refuge to al-Qaida militants. The spokesman dismissed claims that the air strike killed innocent women and children. .
Protesters in the nearby town of Khar accused the U.S. of being behind the attack and shouted "Death to Bush" and "Death to Musharraf" (referring to Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf).
After the attack, Britain's Prince Charles -- on a week long visit to Pakistan -- cancelled a visit to Peshawar in the northwest, on the advice of Pakistan's government.
Earlier -- he praised Pakistan's efforts to fight terrorism.
Across the border in Afghanistan, a spokesman for the NATO alliance said 55 insurgents and one NATO soldier were killed in a battle today in southern Afghanistan.
NATO forces have been confronting Taleban insurgents in Afgthanistan.