Islamabad: October 29, 2007 - Militant faction of a pro-Taliban cleric on Monday is reported to have announced a unilateral temporary ceasefire in the Swat valley in northwestern Pakistan.

The Militant faction seems to have announced one sided ceasefire because the security forces backed by helicopter gun-ships crushed their hideouts and killed over 50 rebels.

The militants, who have taken up positions in mountains surrounding cleric Maulana Fazlullah's sprawling madrassa on the banks of the Swat river at Imamdheri, declared the unilateral truce during a broadcast on their illegal FM radio station, District Coordination Officer Arshad Majeed said.

As per DNA report, the local residents said there were no fresh exchanges of fire between the troops and militants this morning though helicopters were hovering over the region.

Military spokesman Maj Gen Waheed Arshad said about 50-60 militants had been killed in the 'law enforcement action' on Sunday by paramilitary troops and police.

Sirajuddin, a spokesman for Fazlullah, said the ceasefire was only temporary and the militants would retaliate if their posts are attacked by the troops. He said the truce had been called so that bodies of militants and security personnel could be collected.

It could not be immediately ascertained if the local administration was holding talks with the militants though a jirga or tribal council to restore peace in the area.

Majeed told Dawn News channel that the administration was not in contact with the militants.