MINGORA: At least nine militants were killed in clashes with security forces in the northwestern valley of Swat and in the Mohmand tribal region on Saturday, officials said.

Security forces killed five militants in an exchange of fire in Swat, government officials said.

The army says the valley has been largely cleared after a military operation launched in April, 2009.

Separately, security forces killed four militants in a clash that erupted after insurgents attacked a military check post in Mohmand, senior government official Amjad Ali Khan said.

Three militants were also wounded in the clash, Khan said.