Islamabad, Pakistan ? Helicopter gunships pounded pro-Taliban militants in the mountains of northwest Pakistan on Thursday, reportedly killing as many as 70 in an increasingly bloody conflict between the government and Islamist forces.

Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, meanwhile, flew to the United Arab Emirates to visit family two weeks after assassins tried to kill her when she returned from self-exile to lead her party in parliamentary elections. A spokesman said the former premier was expected back in a week.

Pakistan has been rocked by suicide bombings and clashes between security forces and militants in recent weeks, deepening unease ahead of a Supreme Court ruling on the validity of the Oct. 6 presidential victory by President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, a key U.S. ally.

There are fears Musharraf could impose a state of emergency or martial law if the judges rule against another five-year term, jeopardizing the country’s transition to civilian rule and perhaps worsening instability as the government confronts Islamic militants.

Violence in the Swat district, where a militant cleric is trying to enforce Taliban-style rule, underlines the expansion of Islamist movements in northwestern Pakistan near the Afghan border that is challenging Musharraf’s control.

Government officials say militants account for most of 180 people killed in fighting around Swat since 2,500 militiamen from the region’s paramilitary Frontier Constabulary deployed last week to tackle the followers of cleric Maulana Fazlullah.

In fighting Thursday, militants attacked police posts before dawn, and security forces responded with fire from mortars, assault rifles and helicopter gunships. The mountainous region, long known as a tourist resort, is about 80 miles northwest of the capital, Islamabad.

“According to the information I have from police and Frontier Constabulary, between 60 to 70 miscreants were killed in Swat’s areas of Khawaza Khela today,” the army spokesman, Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad, said as thousands of people who fled the days of fighting began setting up tent camps.