Pakistani army helicopters attack suspected insurgent bases

Army helicopters attacked two suspected training camps for tribal insurgents on Wednesday, and assailants fired rockets at Pakistani troops in a restive southwestern province, an official said. Ground troops later moved into the suspected bases near Kohlu, a tribal town east of Quetta, Baluchistan's capital, and seized heavy weapons and ammunition, said Lt. Col. Hassan Jamil, a spokesman for the Frontier Corps.

Jamil said eight rockets landed near the troops' bases in three separate locations, one in Kohlu and the two others in nearby areas, but no one was hurt.

No casualties were reported and no arrests were made, he said. The latest fighting came after troops on Tuesday captured two other rebel bases and arrested four tribesmen suspected of the attacks.

Tension has been high in the area since last week, when suspected Baluch tribesmen fired rockets at Kohlu while President Gen. Pervez Musharraf was on a visit in the town.

The extremists have targeted security forces, railroads, oil and gas fields and other government installations in Baluchistan in what is believed to be a campaign to oppose government plans for new military garrisons in the province.

Tribal leaders have claimed scores of people have been killed in military operations to quell the unrest. But Jamil said he couldn't confirm any deaths, reports the AP. I.L.