Two killed in attack on Pakistan police station

Militants armed with rockets and grenades attacked a Pakistani police station before dawn on Wednesday, killing two officers and wounding seven others, police said.

The assault came in Darbaan Kalan, 30 kilometres (20 miles) west of Dera Ismail Khan, a flashpoint for sectarian violence in the northwest as Taliban commanders claim to have begun initial peace talks with Pakistani authorities.

"They killed two policemen and injured seven others," district police officer Sohail Khaliq told AFP.

"There were around 10-12 militants, who came in vehicles and used grenades, rockets and firing during the attack. They fled in the same vehicles when police resisted," Khaliq added.

Niaz Ahmed, duty officer at the targeted station, confirmed the attack.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility and no militants were killed.

Militants opposed to the US-allied government, particularly the nebulous Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) network, have carried out bomb and gun attacks killing more than 4,700 people across the country since July 2007.

The army and main TTP spokesman strongly deny the reported peace talks. Attacks and violence continue on a near daily basis in northwest Pakistan.