At least 80 killed in attack on 'al-Qaida training centre'

Pakistani troops backed by missile-firing helicopters killed an estimated 80 militants today after destroying a purported al-Qaida-linked training facility near the Afghan border, the military said.

The pre-dawn attack targeted a religious school – known as a madrassa – in Chingai village near Khar, the main town in the Bajur tribal district, said army spokesman Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan.