LANDI KOTAL, Nov 13: Nine volunteers of a tribal lashkar were killed and six others injured when a bomb concealed in a donkey cart exploded in a remote village of Tirah valley in Khyber tribal region on Sunday.

According to sources, the incident took place near a watermill in Mastak bazaar where a large number of people, including some activists of Zakhakhel tribal lashkar, had gathered to grind wheat.

The donkey cart laden with bags of wheat was left unattended and it exploded with a big bang, killing six lashkar volunteers onthe spot. Three of the nine injured people died in hospital.

The watermill and adjoining shops and houses were damaged.

Officials said the bomb was detonated through a remote control. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast.

The Zakhakhel tribal lashkar and the Mangal Bagh-led banned militant organisation, the Lashkar-i-Islam, are at loggerheads since April this year. Some Zakhakhel commanders had parted ways with Mangal Bagh after the LI activists allegedly killed a Zakhakhel cleric in March this year.

Meanwhile, two militants were killed as clashes continued between Lashkar-i-Islam and Ansaarul Islam on Sunday.

Sources said that fresh clashes erupted on Saturday in Serhai Kandao area of Tirah valley where the militants were engaged infierce fighting to take control of some hilltops under the control of the LI.

In Malakdinkhel area, militants attacked a security post at midnight on Saturday. Officials said that troops repulsed the attack which caused minor damage to the post.

Nobody was hurt in the attack.

Troops imposed a curfew in Malakdinkhel area and arrested about 26 suspected militants.