Curfew lifted, residents flee Pakistan's Swat Valley

Pakistan's army again lifted its curfewin the Swat Valley onFriday, allowing residents to flee as troops moved in to prepare for what the armysays will be a majorassault to rid themain town ofTaliban militants.

Television images showed civilian cars, trucks and horse-drawn carts leaving Mingora. People carrying bundles of possessions took to dirt roads and fled south toward nearby fields and mountains.

Some picked their way past bombed-out government buildings and burned-out civilian vehicles along the crowded and cratered main highway.

"I was waiting for the opportunity to leave Mingora," said 66-year-old resident Ismail Khan. "I got the chance today and now I am going."

Pakistan has vowed to eliminate militants from the Swat and two neighbouring districts.Officials say members of the Taliban are shaving off their beards in order to mingle undetected among civilians.

The country has been under intense international pressure to combat the militants who are threatening Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan.

An Associated Press reporter saw four armed Taliban on the edge of town, a little more than a mile from an army checkpoint. The army and witnesses have said the militants have dugtrenches and laid mines to repel an assault.

'Street-to-street fighting'

"The civilian population should leave the city so that security forces can take the militants to task in street-to-street fighting," said military spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas.

Taliban militants had seized a district just 100 kilometres from the capital of Islamabad in April.

Fighting intensified last month after a peace deal between the regional government and hardline cleric Sufi Muhammad failed to take hold, and a military operation was launched to expel Taliban from their stronghold in the Swat.

The deal would have allowed for Islamic courts in the valley in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. By April, it was clear the Taliban would not lay down arms after the cleric complained of government inaction in implementing Islamic law.

The army claims it has killed at least 800 militants since the operation started.

Military officials said the advance is slow in an attempt to avoid civilian casualties.

900,000 have fled: UN

Pakistan officials said that at least 55 Taliban were killed in the Swat Valley on Friday; the military said three soldiers were killed and 11wounded.

The United Nations estimates that more than 900,000 people have left the area amid the escalating clashes.

About 80,000 refugees have moved into displacement camps set up near Mardan. Local officials said more camps are being set upto housethose who were fleeing on Friday.

Some military officials said they believed militants were shaving off their beards and cutting their hair to mix in with the refugees and escape the region.

Fleeing residents who spot militants are being urged to anonymously call mobile phone numbers that have been set up by military officials.