Five killed in Kashmir fighting

Four suspected Muslim rebels and a soldier died in fresh gun battles in the south of revolt-hit Indian Kashmir where fighting has raged for days, police said yesterday.
So far 17 rebels and four soldiers have died in gun battles in Rajouri district, which borders Pakistan-administered Kashmir, since Indian troops backed by police launched an operation last Tuesday against the militants.
The latest killings came late Friday when insurgents made an offer to surrender but then opened fire when troops moved in to arrest them, killing a soldier, a police spokesman said.
"The soldiers returned the fire, killing four militants," he said, adding that the anti-rebel operation in the forested area was continuing.
Police said the heavily armed rebels had recently crossed into Indian Kashmir from the Pakistani zone of the disputed region.