Pakistani troops kill 10 insurgents

Security forces backed by helicopter gunships killed 10 suspected insurgents today in a mountainous valley in north-western Pakistan, where the government is battling supporters of a militant pro-Taliban cleric, the military said.

Militants opened fire on security forces in the Manglore and Kot areas of Swat district, prompting retaliatory fire from troops backed by the helicopters, the military’s public relations department said in a statement.