MINGORA, Jan 5 Four more people were killed in the restive Swat valley on Monday, raising the death toll to 26 in the first five days of 2009.

Two bodies were recovered from the main Green and Suhrab squares of the Mingora city on Monday, residents said. One of the victims was identified as Javed Iqbal of the Salandai area. The other body was lying at the District Headquarters Hospital in Saidu Sharif because the man's name could be ascertained.

A man entered a house in the Shadara area and opened fire on a maid, killing her on the spot. The motive behind the killing could not be known.

Former councilor Mohammad Sahib was killed by unidentified people in the Dakorak area of Charbagh.

People, meanwhile, have started returning home in Charbagh, Khwazahkela and Shakardarra after the administration lifted curfew after 12 days.