TANK: Five people were killed as fighting between two groups of the Taliban spilled over to Tank area on Wednesday whereas four militants were shot dead in Shawal area of South Waziristan tribal region.

Sources said militants in a vehicle with tinted glasses opened fire at a roadside restaurant in Kot Khadak area, 25km from here. Five people were killed. Kot Khadak is situated near South Waziristan.

Witnesses said the attackers had warned the people against removing the bodies and threatened that anybody who did so would meet the same fate. Police took the bodies to hospital, they added.

Two of the victims were common citizens and identified as Attaullah, son of Gulab Khan, a resident of Matchkhel; and Mohammad Zaman, son of Payao Khan, a resident of Katikhel.

Three others were identified as Naqeebullah Mehsud, son of Ibrahim, a resident of Sheikh Uttar; Ali Mohammad Laly, son of Khayal Mohammad, of Ladha tehsil, and Faqir Mohammad, son of Fochain Mehsud, of Sarwaki area in South Waziristan. Source said the three belonged to the Sheheryar group of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and were killed by militants belonging to the rival Khan Said alias Sajna group.

SP Tank Anwar Saeed Kundi said the three were wanted by police in cases of kidnapping for ransom, targeted killing and extortion.

He said police and security forces had cordoned off the area.

Sources said a large number of militants belonging to the Sheheryar group had moved to Gomal area of Tank near South Waziristan.

AFP adds: Wednesday was the fourth day of fighting between the two feuding factions of Taliban.

A total of 43 people have now died in clashes which erupted on Sunday between supporters of Khan Said Sajna and followers of the late Hakeemullah Mehsud group.