Five Pakistani militants killed by own bomb

At least five militants were killed Monday when a bomb they were planting on a roadside exploded prematurely in Pakistan's north-western tribal region, an official said.

The predawn incident took place in the Akakhel area of Khyber, one of seven tribal districts near the Afghan border.

Major Fazalur Rehman, spokesman for the paramilitary Frontier Corps, said all five killed belonged to the banned Lashkar-e-Islam group, which is active in the district.

Khyber was traditionally a stronghold of Lashkar-e-Islam but the group has been weakened after recent fighting with the rival Tariq Afridi group.

The two groups are fighting for control of the strategic district which has the second most important supply route for Nato forces in Afghanistan.