MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan, July 31, SPA -- Government troops backed by helicopter gunships repelled an attack on a military checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, killing up to 12 militants, an army spokesman said. Up to 40 militants attacked the checkpoint near MiranShah, the main town in the North Waziristan tribal districtmidmorning Tuesday, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad said. «Our forces retaliated and returned fire, and destroyedtheir vehicles,» Arshad was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. «According to the reports Ihave received, between 10 to 12 miscreants were killed.»--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/471716