SAVES ON THE SORTING:

Clashes in Pakistan border area kills 58: Tribal volunteers and other forces attack Uzbek militants and their backers in South Waziristan (Zulfiqar Ali, April 5, 2007, LA Times)

Clashes between foreign militants allegedly tied to Al Qaeda and local militias left 58 dead and scores wounded Wednesday in the restive South Waziristan region, officials said.

The fighting erupted after armed tribal volunteers backed by paramilitary forces and even a pro-Taliban militant group attacked the positions of Uzbek militants in the Shin Warsak area of the mountainous region bordering Afghanistan, officials said.

Those killed included 44 Uzbeks and local supporters. The rest of the dead consisted of 10 members of local militias, three paramilitary fighters and a Pakistani soldier, government and security officials said.

The battle was the latest outbreak of violence to hit the lawless region, which has been rocked by heavy fighting since early last month. At least 250 people have been killed, the majority of them reportedly foreign fighters.