Swat suicide bomber 'kills six'

The government offensive has reportedly involved 20,000 troops

A suicide bomber has killed at least six people, including a policeman and two children, at a checkpoint in north-west Pakistan, officials say.

The Swat valley attack comes a day after the army said it had almost cleared the area of militants loyal to pro-Taleban cleric Maulana Fazlullah.

Troops were chasing a few hundred militants in the mountains, it said.

Nearly 300 Islamists are reported to have been killed since the offensive was launched two weeks ago.

There is no independent confirmation of the casualty figures given by the army.

'Blew himself up'

Sunday's suicide bombing took place in Kabal district, near the former headquarters of the Islamic militants at Imam Dehri.

Officials said the attack saw a car crash into the police post.

"The bomber hit the check post barricades with the car and then blew himself up," provincial government spokesman Amjad Iqbal told AFP.

At least five civilians were killed as well as the policeman, officials say.

The fighting in Swat is the first serious insurgent threat from pro-Taleban forces in what is considered a settled area of Pakistan.

Until now the army has focused on fighting militants mainly in the largely autonomous Waziristan tribal areas along the Afghan border.

Forces loyal to Maulana Fazlullah, including some foreign fighters, had taken control of a series of small towns and villages, and tried to implement strict Islamic law.

The militants say they have made a tactical withdrawal.