[Oldeconomybuyer]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN Europe) -- Heavy fighting continues in a mountainous region near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border where a "high-value" al Qaeda leader is believed to be holed up.

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told CNN that he suspects the fighters are protecting al Qaeda's second in command, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Pakistani forces have surrounded the estimated 200 al Qaeda fighters, and are asking them to "surrender immediately," Ahmend said.

"We have no choice as to give them a final time that if they are not going to surrender, we may take some serious action against them."

Ahmed was wary of providing more details, noting that al Qaeda is monitoring television and newspaper reports, and said he would be ready to give more information in 48 hours.

"They like to fight and they like to die there, so the only thing I can say is, we have to wait and see (if there is) more (in) 48 hours," he said.
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[MEG33]

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