Pakistan's military has begun a long-awaited ground offensive against the Taliban in South Waziristan.  

Earlier Saturday, ahead of the planned offensive, Pakistani authorities imposed a curfew in the region, an insurgent stronghold near the Afghan border.

Pakistan's army operation in South Waziristan follows a string of attacks, believed to be part of a Taliban campaign, that killed more than 150 people in the last two weeks.  

Three suicide bombers attacked a government site in Peshawar Friday, killing at least 13 people, including three police officers, two women and one child.

A Pakistani policeman and bystanders remove an injured suicide car bomb blast victim after an attack on a police building in Peshawar, 16 Oct 2009Top Pakistani military and political leaders met in Islamabad Friday to discuss the wave of violence, the ground offensive in South Waziristan, and the displacement of people in the region.  

The U.N. refugee agency reports thousands of people are fleeing South Waziristan to escape anticipated violence.  U.N. agencies estimate more than 100,000 people in the region have been displaced since May.

A spokesman for the refugee agency says it is working with local partners to distribute relief supplies, including sheets, sleeping mats and kitchen sets to those now fleeing South Waziristan. 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.