Officials: 13 die in clash, bomb in NW Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Officials say Islamist militants have attacked a police checkpoint in northwest Pakistan, triggering a shootout that left 12 insurgents dead.The attack on the outskirts of Peshawar city is the latest in a surge of similar strikes that involve groups of militants swarming police checkpoints.

Peshawar lies next to Pakistan's tribal areas, which border Afghanistan and are hotbeds of Taliban and al-Qaida activity.Senior police official Liaquat Ali Khan says police were tipped off about Wednesday's attack and acted quickly, suffering no injuries on their side.In the Khyber tribal region, a bomb went off at a security post. Government official Iqbal Khan says a police officer died and three were wounded.