'Eleven die' in Kashmir violence

An army officer and 10 suspected militants have been killed in two separate clashes in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials say.

The officer was killed in a clash in which two militants were also killed, officials say.

Eight suspected militants who tried to cross the Line of Control which divides Kashmir are also said to have been killed in a separate clash.

There has been a rise in attacks in Kashmir recently after relative peace.

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Kashmir dispute

A defence ministry spokesman said a lieutenant colonel in the Indian army was shot dead in a clash which occurred after troops laid siege to a house in Bandipora, about 60km (37.2 miles) from the state's summer capital Srinagar.

He said troops have recovered the bodies of two militants from the site. The spokesman said the clash is still continuing.

Border clash

Separately an army spokesman said eight suspected militants were killed in a clash that took place early on Friday when the militants apparently cut through the barbed wire fence along the Line of Control and moved in.

The army spokesman, Col H Juneja, told the Associated Press news agency that the militants were killed after a long gun battle.

"The militants opened fire when they were challenged and a six-hour-long gun battle ensued," he said.

"We have found eight bodies and a cache of arms and ammunition."

India alleges that militants cross into Indian-administered Kashmir in the summer, when the snow on high mountain passes melts.

Delhi also says there are militant training camps across the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, a charge that Islamabad denies.