Seven militants, four civilians killed

At least 13 people, including four civilians and seven militants, were killed Sunday, in clashes, shelling by helicopter gunships and artillery fire in tribal region along the Afghan border, officials said.
Army helicopters targeted a convoy of militants in Tanai area of Bajaur tribal district, where the government forces are fighting Taliban and al Qaeda fighters launching cross border attacks on US-led international forces in Afghanistan's Kunar province.
"According to the preliminary information gathered through local sources, five 'miscreants' are killed and several more injured," Muhammad Jamil, a local government official in the semi-autonomous region, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
He said two Taliban warriors also died in clashes with the Lashkar, a traditional army raised by the local population to eliminate militants' hideouts from Bajaur. "Two tribesmen also died in the gunbattle between the sides which exchanged fire for hours," Jamil added.