KHAR, Pakistan, July 14, SPA -- Pro-government tribesmen killed 23 militants in clashes in Pakistan's northwest in the latestviolence between tribal militias and Taliban insurgents, agovernment official said Tuesday. Elsewhere in the volatile northwest, suspected militantsattacked an oil tanker carrying fuel to NATO forces inAfghanistan, killing two people, an official was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. The clashes between militants and tribesmen took place inthe village of Ambar in the Mohmand region. Syed Ahmad Jan, a senior regional administrator, saidlocal tribal militia asked the militants to leave the arealate Monday. The militants refused and opened fire,sparking a gun battle that was still raging Tuesdaymorning, Jan said. Pakistan's government has encouraged tribesmen in thesemiautonomous frontier region to form local militias _known as lashkars _ to repel Taliban militants blamed forattacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Such groups have been set up in several regions but facestiff Taliban resistance. The attack on the oil tanker took place in the nearbyKhyber region, said Fazal Mahmood, a local governmentofficial. The attackers opened fire on the truck, then fled when thesecurity forces escorting the convoy returned fire, Mahmoodsaid. The truck driver and a passer-by were killed. Thetanker was not damaged.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/684230