Pakistan army pounds militant hideouts killing 9 insurgents

Parachinar: A government official says Pakistan's army has killed at least nine suspected militants in a northwest tribal region near the Afghan border.

Mohammed Yasin says the military used helicopter gunships to destroy three militant hideouts in the Orakzai area early Friday.

Many Pakistani Taliban fighters are believed to have fled to Orakzai since the army launched a major offensive against them in the South Waziristan tribal region in October.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has also hinted the army will pursue a full-scale offensive in Orakzai.

The UN says around 40,000 people have already fled the region.