LADDAH / KHAR: A pro-government tribal elder and the wife of another elder were among four people killed in attacks by militants in South Waziristan and Bajaur agencies on Sunday.

Four people were injured. Two militants are reported to have been killed.

Political sources said Malak Amanullah, one of the leaders of a tribal lashkar, and two other people were gunned down when suspected militants opened fire in Azam Warsak bazaar, about 20km west of Wana.

Malak Amanullah died on the spot. Three people were injured in the attack and taken to a hospital in Wana where two of them died.

It was not clear whether the other victims were passersby or associates of the Malak who had played an important role in forcing Uzbeks and their local Ahmedzai Wazir supporters to leave Waziristan.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

One of the attackers was reportedly killed in firing by men accompanying the Malak.

According to our correspondent in Khar, the wife of pro-government tribal elder Malak Mohammad Omar was killed and he himself, his father and a son were injured when about 25 militants stormed his house in Bara Kaman Gara area of Nawagai tehsil on Saturday night.The militants lobbed hand-grenades on the house and used heavy weapons.

The injured were taken to the agency headquarters hospital in Khar.

Political Tehsildar Shah Naseem Khan told reporters that one of the attackers was killed and several others injured when security forces and tribal volunteers fired back.

Security personnel and volunteers sealed the area and started looking for the insurgents and their supporters.

Local people said that Malak Omar had no enmity with anybody but he persisted with his support for the peace committee despite having received threats from the Taliban.