QUETTA: At least 12 suspected militants and a soldier of the Frontier Corps (FC) were killed and four others injured in a clash which took place during a search operation in Kech district on Sunday.

Helicopters and armoured personnel carriers were used and about 600 FC troopstookpartintheoperation.

According to official sources, the operation in Gomazai area near the Iranian border continued for over 12 hours.

`At least 12 armed militants were killed in a gun battle during the search operation,` a spol(esman for the FC, Balochistan, said.

According to him, five soldiers were injured in the heavy exchange of hre and one of them died in hospital.

Independent sources said that four people had been killed and four arrested during the operation which continued till 5pm.