Tribal police killed in Pakistan

At least three local tribal policemen have been killed after militants in north-west Pakistan attacked a security checkpoint, officials say.

The attack took place in the tribal region of Bajaur close to Afghanistan.

A large number of militants are reported to have targeted a checkpoint near Khar, Bajaur's main town, the AFP news agency says.

Pakistan's army says that its operation against the Taliban in the neighbouring Swat valley is almost over.

On Thursday, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called on those displaced by the fighting in the area to go home.

He said that militants had been "cleared" from Swat, Buner and parts of Upper Dir.

But the army is still in the early stages of an operation against Taliban militants in the tribal territory of South Waziristan.

There has been sporadic violence in the region.

On Friday at least one security official was reported killed by militants in the Zhob area of Balochistan just south of South Waziristan.