Militant leader killed in Kashmir

The army in Indian-administered Kashmir say a senior leader of a separatist group has been killed in clashes with security forces.

A spokesman said the chief commander of the Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami HUJI, Abdul Rehman, along with three of his associates, were killed after soldiers, acting on a tip-off, surrounded them in the Sonarvani forest area of Bandipora, 60 kilometres north of Srinigar.

The army said three of the dead, including Mr Rehman were Pakistani nationals.

Military officials say the commander's death will be a setback for the group, which is fighting for Kashmir to merge with neighbouring Pakistan.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service