Militants kill woman "U.S. spy" in Pakistan

Militants in Pakistan executed a woman after accusing her of being a spy for the U.S. and a prostitute, and said others would face the same fate, a government official and villagers said on Wednesday.

It was the first time that a woman had been killed in northwest Pakistan after being accused of spying although militants have killed many men they accused of helping U.S. forces in neighbouring Afghanistan.

The body of the unidentified woman was found dumped beside a road near the town of Khar in the Bajaur region on the Afghan border, a hotbed of support for al Qaeda and Taliban militants.

A note was found with the body, a government official said.

"She was killed because she was an American spy and a prostitute and those who found doing such activities will face the same fate," said the official, who declined to be identified, citing the note.

A villager said the woman had apparently been strangled as there were rope marks on her neck.

"I didn't see any bullet or knife wounds," he said.