Peshawar, May 1: Four militants and three civilians were killed in a suicide attack and a shootout in the restive Swat valley in northwest Pakistan today, an army official said
 A suicide bomber blew himself up in a busy market near Sohrab Khan Chowk in Mingora, the main city in Swat district, killing three civilians and injuring 12 others.
 Briefing the media about the events, Maj Gen Asfhaq Nadeem, the army officer in charge of operations in Swat, said security forces were moved to Sohrab Khan Chowk after the two arrested militants revealed their accomplices were planning to launch suicide attacks in Mingora and its suburbs.
 The security forces cordoned off Sohrab Khan Chowk and ordered the armed militants to surrender. Instead, the rebels started firing at the troops and they retaliated. Four militants were killed and seven security personnel were injured in the gun battle. One of the militants evaded the troops and detonated his explosive vest, killing three civilians and injuring several others.Nadeem said this group of militants was involved in anti-state activities in Mingora for the past three weeks.
 The powerful blast damaged a dozen shops. All markets in Mingora closed down soon after the explosion.
 Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti condemned the attack, describing it as a cowardly act.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 1 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 1 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 2 May 2010 00:00:00 IST