October 23, 2008	Thursday	Shawwal 23, 1429

MINGORA, Oct 22: Fifteen security personnel, five militants and two civilians were killed in fierce fighting in Swat valley on Wednesday.

The clashes erupted on Tuesday in Sarsenai area of Kabal tehsil after militants ambushed a convoy of trucks and armoured vehicles carrying ration and ammunition to Shah Dheri, sources said.

They said the Taliban first set off roadside bombs and then attacked the convoy with rockets and heavy machine guns, inflicting heavy losses on security forces.

Official sources said five security men had been killed while independent sources and Taliban spokesman Musliam Khan said 15 members of security forces had been killed in the ambush.

A military spokesman in Swat, Col Nadeem, said security forces had killed five militants in a counter attack. He said five security personnel were killed and four military vehicles were destroyed by Taliban.

The spokesman said that security forces also killed a would-be suicide bomber, blowing up his vehicle.

The sources said that during the exchange of fire lasting several hours on Wednesday morning, 21 troops had gone missing. Fifteen bodies of soldiers were found at the site on Wednesday morning, they said, adding that six troops were still missing.

Swat District Police Officer Dilawar Bangash said that an ASI, Noor Zaman, and four paramilitary troops identified as Naib Subedar Hassan Faraz, Lance Naik Roban Khan and Sepoys Gul Wazir and Badiuzzaman had been killed.