LADHA: Two leaders of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed in clashes with security forces in the Bober area of South Waziristan, officials said on Saturday.

Irfan Mehsud, son of Azam Tariq, a member of the central shura and former spokesman for the TTP, was killed in an exchange of fire with troops as sporadic clashes continued in Bober. An official source identified the other slainleader as Wafadar Mehsud.

Officials claimed that five TTP supporters had also been killed in clashes on Friday and Saturday.

Security forces and supporters of TTP leader Khan Said alias Sajna have been engaged in fighting since Monday. His supporters, including foreigners, have set up hideouts in Bober.

Sources in the TTP confirmed the killing of Irfan Mehsud. About Wafadar Mehsud, they said he had sustained minor injuries in the fighting.

They claimed that eight soldiershad been killed in clashes, but officials did not confirm that.

Militants said security forces, backed by helicopter gunships, had launched an undeclared offensive and destroyed their hideouts in Bober. They admitted that troops had made an advance in the area.

They said nomads had been caught in the conflict and families who had returned to their homes only recently after having been displaced earlier had again moved to safe locations. They claimed that several women and children had suffered injuries in artillery shelling.