Militants kill Pakistan officials

The security situation in Swat has been deteriorating despite a peace deal

Three Pakistani security officials have been killed by militants in the north-western district of Swat.

The vehicle carrying them was ambushed in the Matta area late on Monday. Witnesses says several suspects were later arrested in a search operation.

Officials also said on Tuesday that up to 30 police and paramilitary troops have been kidnapped by militants in the Deolai area of Swat.

Militant spokesman Bakht Ali Khan claimed responsibility.

Mr Khan told the AP news agency that the government was not sticking to the peace accord.

"The government is not honouring the peace agreement with the Taleban and the government will be responsible for any consequences," he said.

"We will take revenge for any action against us."

The militants said the three officials were killed because they had tortured two militants in custody.

Correspondents say that the two incidents have delivered serious blows to a peace deal signed two months ago in Swat, where militants have become more active in recent weeks.

Matta is the hub of militants led by a local cleric and has been the focus of a military operation since last year.

Police told the BBC Urdu service that the three officials, belonging to a federal intelligence agency, had been ambushed by more than a dozen militants in the Sanj Banrh area of Matta.

Following the ambush, security forces put the area under curfew and started a house-to-house search and a number of arrests were made, witnesses said.

They also reported artillery fire from a paramilitary base in the area which targeted suspected militant positions.

Violence

A spokesman for the local militants, Muslim Khan, told the BBC Urdu service that the security officials had been involved in arresting and torturing two militants from the area.

"Our colleagues were tortured so badly, they are still in the hospital and cannot eat or drink," he said.

Correspondents say the security situation in Swat has been deteriorating despite a peace agreement between the government and pro-Taleban cleric Maulana Fazlullah.

Last month, militants burned down much of a hotel in the country's only ski resort, located in the area.

The Taleban admit attacking soldiers and police to avenge the death of their comrades.

But they deny torching at least 10 local girls' schools, claiming unnamed elements were trying to sabotage the peace deal.