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'Loud blasts' heard in Pakistan Pakistan militant house destroyed
(about 2 hours later)
Police in Pakistan say they are investigating two loud explosions heard in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. An explosion has destroyed the house of a militant leader in the Khyber region of north-west Pakistan, killing at least seven people, officials say.
The cause and location of the blasts is not clear, but officials say all "sensitive installations" are safe. It is not clear whether explosives stored in the building detonated or if it was hit by missiles.
Some reports say at least one of the explosions took place in the nearby city of Rawalpindi, 12km (seven miles) from the capital city. Security forces began a drive against militants in the area at the weekend.
Rawalpindi is the headquarters of Pakistan's army and the residence of President Pervez Musharraf. Separately, Islamabad and Rawalpindi were shaken by loud bangs, but these are thought to have been an aircraft breaking the sound barrier - not bombs.
A month ago, a car bomb attack near the Danish embassy in Islamabad killed six people and wounded 30 others. Officials said all "sensitive installations" were safe and there had been no bomb at any military installation in Rawalpindi, where the army is headquartered.
'All clear' "It could have been a sonic boom but we are still investigating," a senior police official told Reuters news agency.
Residents said buildings in Rawalpindi shook with the impact of the blasts. 'Hit by missiles'
"We have information of an explosion. We are still checking where is the site and what is the cause," Rao Mohammed Iqbal, a senior Rawalpindi police officer, told the Associated Press news agency. Officials in Khyber told the BBC the house of Haji Namdar, leader of one of the three militant groups active in the area, was blown up at about 0330 local time (2230 GMT).
"All sensitive installations are clear," he added.
Meanwhile, at least seven people have been killed in an explosion which destroyed the house of a militant leader in the Khyber tribal district in north-west Pakistan.
A major military offensive against Khyber militants began on SaturdayA major military offensive against Khyber militants began on Saturday
Officials in Khyber told the BBC the house of Haji Namdar, leader of one of the three groups active in the area where security operation was launched on Saturday, was blown up at about 0330 (2230 GMT).
"Some witnesses say the house was hit by missiles, but it is also possible that explosives stored in the house blew up," a local official said."Some witnesses say the house was hit by missiles, but it is also possible that explosives stored in the house blew up," a local official said.
Security forces launched an operation against militants in the Khyber tribal district on Saturday. Security forces launched a major operation against militants near the main north-western city of Peshawar on Saturday.
The militants on Sunday said they were suspending peace talks with the government. Militants have become more active in and around Peshawar in recent months, say correspondents.
Security forces have also recovered eight bodies from another district in the same region, officials said. Troops have also recovered eight bodies from another district in the same region, officials said.
They said the men had apparently been executed by local militants, in the neighbouring Kurram tribal district to the south. They said the men had apparently been killed by militants, in Kurram tribal district to the south of Khyber.
"All of them had bullet wounds in the head and chest, but none of them was beheaded," an official from Kurram, Ataur Rahman, told the BBC."All of them had bullet wounds in the head and chest, but none of them was beheaded," an official from Kurram, Ataur Rahman, told the BBC.
Witnesses said the bodies were those of local men who may have been condemned by a local Taleban kangaroo court. The BBC's M Ilyas Khan says this would be the first instance of Taleban justice in Kurram, where frequent sectarian attacks have claimed scores of lives during the last eight months.
No resistance "These killings are not related to sectarian violence," Mr Rehman said.
Paramilitary troops, which launched an operation against militant groups in Khyber on Saturday, have destroyed offices and houses of militant leaders in the eastern parts of the district. 'No resistance'
They have not faced any resistance from the militants, who are reported to have moved to the remote western mountains near the border with Afghanistan. The operation by paramilitary troops has destroyed offices and houses of militant leaders in the eastern parts of Khyber district, officials say.
Our correspondent says security forces have not faced any resistance from the militants, who are reported to have moved to the remote western mountains near the border with Afghanistan.
The local Taleban have responded by suspending peace talks with the government.The local Taleban have responded by suspending peace talks with the government.
"Talks cannot continue when the government continues to violate its promises and commitments," Maulvi Omar, the spokesman for a Taleban umbrella group, Movement of the Pakistani Taleban, said on Sunday. "Talks cannot continue when the government continues to violate its promises and commitments," Maulvi Omar, spokesman for a network of pro-Taleban groups, said on Sunday.
Pakistan's new government launched negotiations with the militants in the spring, in an attempt to end a wave of attacks and suicide bombings.