Bodies of 2 Taliban commanders found in Pakistan's Swat

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, March 1 (Xinhua) -- The bullet-riddled bodies of two senior Taliban commanders and three other suspected militants were found early Monday in northwest Pakistan's Swat valley, witnesses said.

The body of Maulana Alam Benori, in-charge of the Taliban's illegal FM radio station and deputy to Taliban chief in Swat Maulana Fazalullah, was found at Madyan area of Swat, they said.

He was among the most wanted Taliban leaders and the government had announced a reward of 10 million Pakistani rupees (about 120, 000 U.S. dollars) for the information about him.

The body of another important commander Shams-ul-Haq and three other militants were found in the same area.

Sources said that they had been killed in fighting with the security forces.

On Sunday, bullet-riddled bodies of 17 militants were found in Darra Adam Khel tribal region near Peshawar, the capital of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

Locals said that the security forces had launched operation against the militants in the region and the militants were killed in clashes.