MINGORA, Dec 3 An army convoy was ambushed in the Kanju town here on Wednesday, killing one soldier and injuring four others, officials said. Security forces imposed curfew in the area and arrested 21 suspects during a search operation.

The convoy was proceeding from its base in Kanju to the Matta subdivision when it was attacked in the Shahi Bazaar.

Witnesses said the assailants opened indiscriminate fire on the convoy, killing naib subedar Fareed Jan on the spot.

The Inter Services Public Relations confirmed that one soldier had been killed and four wounded in the encounter.

It said security forces had opened fire in self- defence. The exchange of fire between soldiers and militants continued for a long time. Curfew was imposed in the area and the forces conducted a search operation.

An official said 21 suspected people were arrested and they were being interrogated.

FAZLULLAH Local Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan has denied the murder of Maulana Fazlullah and termed the interior ministry report baseless and concocted. He told local journalists by phone from an undisclosed location on Wednesday that Fazlullah was safe.

The interior ministry had claimed that Fazlullah was killed in an air strike on Gut Peochar two days ago. —Correspondent