**At least 22 militants have been killed and dozens injured in deadly clashes between rival militant groups in north-west Pakistan, officials say. ** Army helicopter gunships were deployed after the clashes in the tribal region of South Waziristan.
The area is a stronghold of Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud, who the US and Pakistan believe was killed in a US air strike last week.
Senior commanders from his group have denied that he was killed.
The clashes erupted in the town of Tank when Baitullah Mehsud loyalists are reported to have attacked the homes and offices of supporters of a rival militant group, headed by Haji Turkistan Bhittani.
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More than 35 houses were burned down, officials said.
During the attack, militant supporters of Baitullah Mehsud are said to have killed at least seven supporters of Haji Turkistan Bhittani and taken 15 more hostage.
Reports say that as the Baitullah Mehsud loyalists made their getaway, army helicopter gunships were scrambled and fired on the convoy of vehicles as it headed towards Sararogha.
Officials say that 15 militants were killed in the strike.
There is no independent confirmation about the casualty figures.
The remote and hostile terrain of South Waziristan is where Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud is said to have been killed.
Neither Pakistani officials nor the Taliban have yet managed to provide hard evidence to back up their claims about his fate.
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