Militants killed in Kashmir

Police in Indian-administered Kashmir say 10 militants have been killed in a number of clashes with security forces.

They say two militants from the Al-Badar group, both Pakistani nationals, were killed in a gun battle along the Sopore-Bandipora road in northern Kashmir on Thursday evening.

A spokesman for Al-Badr said one of the militants killed was a divisional commander, and he said at least two Indian soldiers had been killed in the clash.

In another incident, Indian troops killed three militants from the Jamiat-ul Mujahideen group in an ambush near the town of Bandipora.

In two separate clashes in Kupwara district, the authorities say five militants were killed.

Meanwhile, police say suspected militants have shot dead a party official of the governing party in Jammu and Kashmir the National Conference, Ghulam Rasool Bhat.

He's the second party member to be killed this week.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service