Militant leaders killed in Pak

 Militant commanders Salman and Ayub, believed to be close aides of Maulana Fazlullah were killed in Kabal sub-division, the army-run media centre said. Troops consolidated their positions in the Waziristan region bordering Afghanistan. Seven militants were also captured from the restive Swat valley in the northwest.

In a separate incident, a key Taliban commander blew himself up late on Friday night when police raided an area on the outskirts of Peshawar where he was hiding.

Six policemen were injured by the blast. The commander, identified only as Irfan, fired at police and then blew himself up with a grenade in Mattani area. The police also arrested seven suspects during the raid. Local elders said Irfan was apparently planning to target a tribal ‘jirga’.

Security forces apprehended seven suspected militants during search and clearance operations at several places in Swat. Four militants also surrendered to the authorities, the military said.