Indo-Pak border fire kills 4

Four people were killed when nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan traded heavy fire across their border early yesterday, with each country accusing the other of "unprovoked" military action.

"Two civilians were killed" and four people injured, including a paramilitary soldier, on the Indian side of the international frontier when Pakistani forces opened fire, Indian police inspector-general Rajesh Kumar told AFP.

On the other side of the frontier, two Pakistani civilians -- a woman and a 60-year-old man -- "were martyred" by Indian fire, a senior Pakistani military official said.

The neighbours accused each other of starting the pre-dawn firing.

The countries have been exchanging almost daily charges of violating a decade-old ceasefire since India scrapped last Monday bilateral talks with Pakistan.

New Delhi called off the talks over meetings between Pakistan's high commissioner (ambassador) and Kashmiri separatists.

The latest Pakistani fire targeted several Indian border posts, Indian police said. Many villagers living close to the border in the RS Pura area of disputed Indian Kashmir have been evacuated due to Pakistani firing, Kumar told AFP.