Pakistan 'militants' kill official and family members

Militants in Pakistan have blown up the house of a local official, killing him and five members of his family.

Sarbraz Saddiqi, a government official in Kurram district, his wife and four children were killed in the attack, a police official said.

Sunday morning's attack came as the family were asleep.

No-one has admitted planting the bomb. But the police spokesman said it could be linked to a Pakistan army offensive against the Taliban in the area.

The army has captured territory in South Waziristan, a hotbed of Islamic militancy, but many insurgents are believed to have fled to nearby regions, including Kurram.

Small children killed

The attack occurred in Mosu Zai village, about 200km (125 miles) from the north-western city of Peshawar.

"Unknown miscreants planted dynamite around the house and exploded it between 0200 (2100 GMT) and 0300 and the house was destroyed," Abab Ali, a local official told AFP news agency.

"Those killed were aged five to 11," he said.

"We don't know whether the Taliban, terrorists or Shias were responsible," Mr Ali said.

But police officer Naeemullah Khan said the attack appeared to be linked to the army's efforts against the Taliban militants in the area.

Dead soldier's Christmas message

The girlfriend of a British soldier who died trying to stop suicide bombers in Afghanistan received his Christmas card the day before his death.

L/Cpl David Kirkness, 24, from Morley, West Yorkshire, was one of two soldiers who sacrificed their lives to stop an attack on a packed marketplace.

Mel Maclean, 31, said the card included the lines "sorry aint going to be home with you all" and "love you babes".

She choked back tears as she told how she had last spoken to him on Sunday.

She received the Christmas card the next day.

Ms Maclean said L/Cpl Kirkness's mother had told her he was going to ask her to marry him during a family holiday planned for April next year.

She said his letters always talked about a surprise he had for her and she now knew that was a marriage proposal.

She said that felt "really special".

Ms Maclean added: "I knew if it came to somebody or himself, he'd save somebody else.

"He's a hero - there's no other word for him. We're all really proud of him."

L/Cpl Kirkness's father Chris agreed that his son was a hero.

He said: "It's what he does. He's always put other people first and it's what he's done again.

"I just want to remember him for what he's done.

"He's given his life to save a hell of a lot of people."