At an international donors' meeting in Islamabad, Prime Minister Gilani launched an urgent appeal for more support, citing the need to "win the hearts and minds of the people".

The government says that so far, more than 200 million dollars had been pledged from the international community for humanitarian aid, and a new UN appeal was trying to raise that figure to half a billion dollars.

Meanwhile, thousands of Taliban continue to fight the army in Swat and neighbouring regions.