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Militants gear up attacks on security forces to avenge Mosque operation

ISLAMABAD, July 12 (KUNA) -- Residents of Islamabad and a certain proportion of Pakistanis might have been relieved with the final resolution of Lal Mosque crisis, though with a tragic end, but northern parts of the country are boiling with anger and pledges of revenge are echoing in the air and mountains.
Since the operation started on Tuesday July 3rd though at the intimidation of the mosque vigilantes, militant sympathizers have been targeting security forces in the northern valleys of Sawat, Der and Gilgit as well as in the tribal region.
Up to eight attacks including suicides were carried out against security forces in Sawat valley only over a week. In tribal areas rocket attacks on security forces picked up the pace.
At least seven security personnel were killed in three different explosions in Sawat and North Waziristan tribal agency Thursday.
While the operation was underway here and a battle-like atmosphere had shrouded otherwise calm Islamabad, thousands of tribesmen led by hundreds of Taliban militants carrying weapons with covered faces held protest demonstrations in the tribal region. Chanting anti-US and anti-government slogans, they threatened the government to launch Jihad( holy war) )against it, if the operation is not halted immediately. Similar protests were held in the northern lush-green valleys.
In some districts of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), which were destroyed by the October 8, 2005 earthquake, angry people ransacked government offices and set on fire offices of foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Security sources told the Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA) that about 15 rockets were fired at a security camp in Bajaur agency late Wednesday night wounding 8 security personnel.
Another tribal source said that at the burial of three mosque students on Thursday in the agency hundreds of tribesmen joined by about 400 armed-militants vowed to avenge the operation and announced to carryout suicide attacks across the country.
The source added that in the Momand agency, mosque leaders threatened taking revenge of the mass killings by carrying out suicide attacks in the capital.
A major part of the mosque students belonged to northern and tribal parts of the country.
Intelligence sources said, in light of possible backlash, security across the country had been beefed up and airports given red alerts.
They said a report on possible suicide attacks had been submitted in the Federal Interior Ministry and stringent security measures had been taken to maintain order in the country. (end) amn.msa KUNA 121843 Jul 07NNNN