A roadside bomb killed six Taliban militants, including a prominent local commander, in north-western Pakistan today in an attack that could have been motivated by tensions between different insurgent groups.

At least 22 people died in an explosion at a Shiite procession in south-western Pakistan today.

Police commandos acting on a tip-off killed one militant and arrested five others today in a raid against a bombing cell accused in recent attacks around the north west Pakistani city of Peshawar, authorities said today.

A group of “thieves” has claimed responsibility for kidnapping an Italian relief worker from her car in the Afghan capital Kabul, a senior police official said today.