Blast in NW Pakistan kills 2

ISLAMABAD, March 17 (Xinhua) -- A blast occurred in northwest Pakistan on Monday, killing two policemen and injuring five others, local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.

The blast took place at a police station at Mingora town of Swat valley in North West Frontier province, said the report.

A suicide bomber aged between 15 to 20 came to the gate of the police lines and told the guards that he wanted to meet his friend in the police lines. When the guards realized that the man was suspicious, they tried to arrest him, but the suspect blew himself up.

As a result of the blast, two policemen were killed and five others injured. The injured policemen were reported to be in critical condition.

The rescue teams have arrived at the site of the blast.

Local TV channel DAWN NEWS quoted a police officer as saying that it was a suicide blast.

As many as 73 suspected militants have been arrested in a week-long search operation conducted by security forces in different areas of Swat valley, according to the DAWN NEWS report.

The security forces have been fighting local militants in Swat valley since last November in a bid to eliminate them. The army claimed in February that most of the areas in Swat valley had been controlled by security forces.