Forces kill 12 militants

At least 12 militants including two suicide bombers were killed Thursday in separate incidents in north-western tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, officials said. In one incident Pakistani troops and helicopter gunships killed 10 rebels in a raid on militant hideouts in Mohmand tribal district.
"At least 10 militants were killed in an operation by security forces in Inzaree village," Zakir Hussain Afridi, administration chief of neighbouring Bajaur tribal district, whose main town is Khar, told AFP. "Ground troops fired mortars and helicopter gunships pounded militant hideouts," he added.
Local security officials confirmed the strike and the militant death toll. Pakistan has carried out several raids against Taliban militants hiding in Mohmand district. Separately, a suicide bomber was shot dead and another blew himself up when intercepted by authorities outside Khar, Afridi and his deputy chief Mohammad Jamil said.