Syrian troops kill five militants

Syrian troops have killed five Islamic militants in clashes in the centre of the country, says state media.

Fighting broke out during a raid by anti-terror troops in the province of Hama on Friday, said the Sana agency.

The forces were targeting a village hideout of militants linked to the Jund al-Sham organisation, an interior ministry official was quoted as saying.

None of the militants survived and two government soldiers were wounded in the clashes, the official added.

Police seized weapons, bombs and explosives from the house in the village of Jibreen, some 200km (125 miles) north of Damascus, said Sana.

The official said Jund al-Sham, which in Arabic means Soldiers of Syria, had been monitored for months and was believed to be planning to carry out attacks in the country.