Around 600 villagers who earlier fled fighting in South Waziristan between some 30,000 troops against about 12,000 Taliban militants chanted ``Long live the Taliban' and ``Down with America' after complaining of receiving no government aid for days. The protest took place in Kot Azam in North West Frontier Province, which lies close to the border region.
``I have not received a single penny or a handful of grain,' said Akhtar Mehsud, who left his home two months ago and is now living in the ruins of an old house along with 22 members of his family. ``I have now no hope from this government. The Taliban were even better than them.' The United Nations said at least 32,000 people have fled South Waziristan over the last week, joining more than 80,000 people who left earlier when the army began making preparations for the offensive.