Pakistan forces kill 80 Taliban fighters

Continuing their push against the Taliban, Pakistani troops on Sunday killed more than 20 would-be suicide bombers in Dir and Buner districts, as the military accused the militants of "gross violation" of the peace accord in the restive Swat valley.

As the security forces made further inroads into the Taliban-held areas, militants stepped up violence in the restive Swat valley, killing a soldier and injuring several others.

Officials in-charge of the operation in Buner told reporters that security forces had killed 80 militants, including 21 suicide attackers, in recent fighting. Three soldiers were killed and eight others were injured, they said. The officials did not specify the period during which the 80 militants were killed.

Over 200 militants have been killed since troops launched the offensive against the Taliban in Dir and Buner, located near the federal capital, last week. Nine would-be suicide attackers were also arrested, officials said.

The military described the violence by the Taliban as a "gross violation of the peace accord" in Swat. It said the militants were involved in "various criminal activities threatening the lives of civil population, civil administration as well as security forces personnel".