Militants attack Pak security post, 17 dead

PESHAWAR, May 18 (Reuters): More than 70 militants armed with rockets and mortars attacked a security post on the outskirts of Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar Wednesday, the latest in an upsurge of violence since Osama bin Laden was killed in the country this month. Two members of the security forces and at least 15 insurgents were killed in a four-hour gunbattle that erupted following two successive attacks on the security post set up to defend Peshawar, the gateway to the troubled northwest region. "They were well-armed. They had heavy weapons, rockets, mortars everything. The fighting lasted for about four and a half hours," Ejaz Khan, a city police officer, said. The attack took place near Khyber, part of Pakistan's lawless tribal belt on the Afghan border, which is regarded as a global hub of militants, including al Qaeda and the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban movements. Two members of the security forces were killed and five wounded, Khan said. At least 15 insurgents were killed. Security forces repulsed the first attack by the militants which was carried out just before midnight, officials said. "Then they carried out a big attack early in the morning. We also called in reinforcements to counter the attack and we did it," a Peshawar security official said. Meanwhile: Visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Wednesday hailed his country's "all-weather friendship" with China, as he faced renewed US pressure following the killing of Osama bin Laden. Gilani's four-day visit to China follows the May 2 killing of the Al-Qaeda leader by US special forces on Pakistani soil, in a raid that has rattled US-Pakistan ties-and prompted Islamabad to court its long-time ally Beijing.