Bomb kills five in northwest Pakistan

The blast took place in the town of Mamoond

A roadside bomb exploded on Sunday killing a local government official and four policemen in Pakistan's restive northwestern tribal area bordering Afghanistan, officials said.

The blast took place in the town of Mamoond, some 25 kilometres (15 miles) from Khar, the main town of Bajaur, one of the country's seven semi-autonomous tribal districts, where the army has been battling Taliban militants.

"A local government officer and four tribal police were killed and another was wounded when an improvised explosive device planted on a roadside exploded when their vehicle passed," senior local government official Anwarul Haq told AFP.

Local security officials confirmed the attack and casualties.

Nobody immediately claimed responsibility for the bomb explosion but in the past Taleban militants have carried out several suicide bombings and other attacks in the district.

Violence in Pakistan has declined in recent years following a series of military offensives against insurgents along the northwestern border.

But militant groups are still able to carry out bloody attacks, particularly in the northwest.