Militants kill 'US spy' in Pakistan

PAKISTAN: Suspected Islamic militants in a restive Pakistani tribal town on Tuesday slaughtered an Afghan national, alleging that he was a spy for US forces across the border, officials said.

The body of the man, identified as Mohammad Bashir, 40, was found dumped, with his throat slit, in a drain near the northwestern town of Khar in the Bajaur tribal district, an administration official said.
      
A note placed near the body said: "This is the fate of those who spy for US forces," the official said, requesting anonymity.

He blamed the killing on "miscreants engaged in acts of terrorism to disrupt peace in the region." A probe had been ordered into the killing, he said.

The slain man had arrived in Bajaur from the neighbouring Afghan province of Kunar, residents said.

Militants believed to be linked with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban have recently killed several people including local tribesmen whom they accused of espionage.

Hundreds of extremists fled into Pakistan's mountainous border areas after the ouster of the hardline Taliban regime in the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, where they found support from conservative Pakistani tribesmen.