Five killed in Kashmir gunfight

At least five people have died in a gunbattle between suspected Islamic militants and the Indian army in the disputed Himalayan province of Kashmir.

According to Indian police, four Islamic militants tried to drive a car bomb into the Awantipore air base, but security guards killed them during a 20-minute gunfight.

One of the security guards was also killed, while another two were seriously wounded.

More than a dozen Islamic militant groups have been fighting for an independent Kashmir since 1989.

Human rights monitors claim more than 60,000 people have been killed in the 12 years since the war began.

India has accused Pakistan of training, arming and funding the guerrillas, a claim the Pakistani regime rejects.

India and Pakistan have fought two wars over control of Kashmir since both gained independence from Britain in 1947.

Under a ceasefire deal agreed almost a year ago, India now controls two-thirds of the province and Pakistan the rest.