The Pakistan military says it has regained control of the largest town in the Swat valley from the Taliban.

Army spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told the BBC that the centre of Mingora was under military control, although there were still skirmishes on the outskirts.

Fighting intensified a week ago as the army strengthened its presence in the town, conducting house-to-house searches for Taliban militants.

Journalists are banned from the area so it is hard to verify the army's claims.

Hundreds have died and more than 2 million have fled the Swat valley since the operation against the Taliban was launched after a peace deal broke down earlier this month.


See a map of the region
The army's latest declaration comes days after a lethal bombing in Lahore, which was later claimed by Taliban as revenge for the Swat operations.

Although the military has always had bases in Mingora, the city has in effect been under Taliban control in recent weeks.

The army said seven days ago that it had re-taken key intersections, and expected a further seven to 10 days of fighting.