LANDI KOTAL, Jan 4: Renewed clashes between a banned militant organisation and a tribal lashkar left seven persons dead and one injured in Bazaar-Zakhakhel area of Khyber Agency on Wednesday.

Sources said that a fierce gun battle erupted between members of militant outfit Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) and volunteers of Zakhakhel tribe to gain control of some important bases occupied by the former.

At least six activists of LI and a volunteer of Zakhakhel lashkar were killed in the fight, which lasted for several hours. One Zakhakhel volunteer was injured and several LI bunkers were captured by the tribal lashkar.

Sources in Bara said that LI launched a fresh offensive late on Wednesday to regain its lost positions.

The Zakhakhel tribe raised a lashkar against LI in April last year after some commanders of the outfit, belonging to the tribe, developed differences with their group head Mangal Bagh over alleged misappropriation of funds and assassination of a local cleric.

The cleric was assassinated allegedly by LI activists in March last year.

Meanwhile, the Abdullah Ezzam Brigade has threatened to target all public and private places and social and religious gatherings in Khyber Agency in retaliation of the military operation conducted in Karamna area in Landi Kotal on Jan 1.

A spokesman for the militant organisation telephoned local journalists from an undisclosed location on Wednesday and said that they would target public and religions gatherings, including funeral and jirgas, and mosques, bazaars and public meetings, because the locals had not protested against the arrest of three women and as many children and killing of 12 militants in the Karamna operation.

He said that anyone and anything could be targeted to avenge the Karamna operation and apathy of tribal people to the bloodshed.

The worried tribesmen have demanded of the political administration to increase security of mosques and bazaars in view of the threats.