ISLAMABAD, May 21 Security forces took control on Thursday of a major portion of the strategic Kamber bridge overlooking Mingora.

According to defence sources, terrorists had built concrete bunkers and stored arms, ammunition and explosives in caves in the area. An intense operation was under way to stop the supply of weapons to militants in the town, the sources said.

They said that troops had reached both the sides of Ayub Bridge, which would be blocked before the launching of a full-scale operation in Mingora.

Most of the people of Mingora have left the town, but terrorists were still holding their position.

The sources said that Kamber town was the hub of terrorists and four main 'commanders' of Swat Taliban chieftain Maulana Fazlullah belonged to the area.

Military spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas said security forces had taken control of almost three-fourths of the Kamber bridge.

He said that Taliban commander Abu Tariq and several other terrorists had been killed during intense fighting in various areas of the valley.

Five soldiers laid down their lives and another seven, an officer among them, were injured.

He said the operation was progressing well and 25 local militants and about 30 foreign nationals had been arrested.

The spokesman said that fierce clashes were continuing in different areas of Swat.

He said security forces had cleared several hideouts of terrorists in the Peochar valley and were carrying out search and destroy operations.

After fierce cashes, troops have succeeded in clearing the area up to Shahid Khapa. A number of terrorists were killed and three soldiers were injured in the clashes.

Security forces were strengthening their positions around the Takhtaband bridge, Barikot, Gokdara and Udigram.

Five soldiers and several militants were killed in Kanju and Takhtaband. Four soldiers were injured.

The forces secured Banai Baba Ziarat, the highest point in the area and a stronghold of terrorists.

CHIEFS' VISITS Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited Daggar in Buner district to see progress of operations. He held an informal discussion with commanders and troops. He was briefed on the operation by the field commanders. The COAS praised the morale of troops.

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman also visited an operational base from where air operations were being undertaken against militants in Swat and adjoining areas. He was briefed by the base commander on significant aspects of the operation.

Addressing airmen at the base, the air chief marshal said the air force was supporting the army in its operations to restore the writ of the government and root out militancy from Swat.

He said the PAF was striking targets in isolated areas using only precision-guided munitions to avoid civilian casualties and collateral damage. He said intelligence and information about targets were being provided by the ground forces.

He said the army and air force were extremely careful in selecting targets to avoid collateral damage.

He said the targets attacked by the PAF included militants' tunnel structures, ammunition dumps, training camps and hideouts of their commanders. He said the militants had been flushed out of their hideouts.

The air chief said the PAF was also contributing significantly towards relief efforts for displaced people.

He said a relief camp for 250 families and a field hospital were being set up, which would be run by the NWFP government and sustained by the air force.

He said the PAF would continue airlifting relief goods from Karachi, Quetta and Lahore.