ISLAMABAD, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's local Taliban on Saturday claimed responsibility for the bomb attack in northwestern Pakistan's Swat valley, in which at least seven policemen were killed, local ARY TV channel reported.

    A police van was hit by a remote-control bomb at Kabal area of Swat valley in North West Frontier Province when it was on a routine patrolling, seven policemen were killed and many injured.

    The Pakistan security forces launched the major offensive in Swat valley on Tuesday after local Taliban killed three intelligence agents and kidnapped 25 police and paramilitary soldiers from a police station.

    Pakistan has sent more troops to fight against the local Taliban in Swat valley, which used to be a scenic spot famous for ancient Buddhist culture, but now it has become a stronghold for local Taliban since last year.

    On Saturday, Pakistan army continued to pound the militants, backed by gunship helicopters. One woman was killed and her two children were injured in mortar shelling.

5 policemen killed in Pakistan's Swat valley

    ISLAMABAD, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least five policemen were killed and five others injured in a bomb attack in northwestern Pakistan's Swat valley on Saturday.

    A police van came under a remote-control bomb attack at Kabal area of Swat valley in North West Frontier Province when it was on a routine patrolling, the state television PTV reported.

    The reports said that a police officer is among the five personnel killed in the blast. Full story

Pakistani Taliban denies media report on al-Zawahiri's death or injury

    ISLAMABAD, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- A Pakistani Taliban spokesman on Saturday denied a media report on death or wounding of al-Qaeda No.2 leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a U.S. missile strike.

    Maulvi Umar, spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (Pakistan Taliban Movement), made the remarks in an interview with private Express TV channel.

    Pakistan's military spokesman Athar Abbas said earlier that there was no evidence or information on al-Zawahiri's death or injury in a suspected U.S. strike.  Full story