Fighting continues in southwest Pakistan

Quetta: The Pakistani military says six troops and an unknown number of militants have died in fighting in the southwest.

A spokesman said the clashes began on Saturday when militants attacked a convoy near Dera Bugti in Pakistan's Baluchistan province.

The spokesman said troops sent to the area destroyed two militant camps before withdrawing early on Monday. He said a number of militants were killed, but didn't know how many.

Ethnic Baluch groups are fighting for greater autonomy and control of the province's natural gas and other resources. The conflict is separate from that involving Islamic militants near the Afghan border.