Pakistani security forces have killed at least 12 nationalist rebels in an ambush near the south-western town of Dera Bugti, a senior paramilitary officer said on Sunday. The fighting took place in Toba Nokhani area, 350 km (220 miles) east of gas-rich Baluchistan's capital, Quetta, on Saturday. Major-General Saleem Nawaz of the paramilitary Frontier Corps, told Reuters that forces destroyed militants' hideouts and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition. "We have cleared the area of miscreants," he said, adding that 17 rebels were also wounded. Five soldiers were also killed in the fighting.
