August 26, 2008	Tuesday	Sha'aban 23, 1429

MINGORA, Aug 25: A brother and two nephews of Awami National Party MPA Waqar Ahmed Khan and nine other people were killed and several others injured in clashes in Swat on Monday.

Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan claimed his men had killed the brother of Mr Khan in revenge for military operation which he said was being carried out on the directives of the ANP-led government.

The militants lobbed hand-grenades on the house of Iqbal Ahmed Khan, the elder brother of the legislator, in Shah Dheri area at about 8 am, killing him and his sons Jamil Khan and Abbas Khan.

Four guards, Sultan Zarin, Sher Bahadar, Bismillah Jan and Lal Syed were also killed and servant Elam Khan was injured.

The militants also gunned down Iqbal Khan’s neighbour Shafiullah Khan who was a soldier in the Frontier Constabulary, said Kabal police.

Police said the militants also blew up the house and hujra of Iqbal Khan.

The militants killed two pro-government tribesmen in Chotta Kalam area near Shakardara. They brought them out of a vehicle and shot them dead.

According to ISPR, two Taliban militants were killed and several others were injured when helicopter gunships pounded their hideouts in Barabanda.

A police post was blown up when militants detonated an improvised explosive device, injuring two policemen and two civilians.