2 citizens killed by Taliban in Pakistan's Swat

A local official says militants have killed two members of an anti-Taliban citizen's group tasked with protecting their community in Pakistan's Swat Valley.

A local official says militants have killed two members of an anti-Taliban citizen's group tasked with protecting their community in Pakistan's Swat Valley.

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Mayor Mohammad Ibrar Khan says the assailants struck early Thursday as members of the "peace committee" slept in Swat's Sertelegram area.

Security guards engaged the militants in a gunbattle and Khan says several attackers were killed, though no bodies have been found.

Khan says local people formed the group last week to protect their area from Taliban fighters who controlled the valley until July when a major offensive by the Pakistani army scattered them. The formation of such citizen groups is supported by Pakistan's government and has angered the Taliban leading to attacks.