At least 15 Pakistani security men have been killed in a bombing attack in northwestern Pakistan late Tuesday evening, the News Network International (NNI) news agency reported on Wednesday.

A convoy of six vehicles was carrying ration for security forces when a roadside bomb was exploded through a remote control at Sarsenay area, some 30 kilometers from Mingora, a major city in Swat of North West Frontier Province, reported NNI.

Security forces and militants started firing on each other soon after the bombing attack.

Militants used rockets and automatic guns to target the group of over 42 security personnel, sources said. Three vehicles were completely destroyed in the attack, witnesses said.

Local people said they saw 15 bodies of the security men at the site of the blast on Wednesday morning. Officials said that five Taliban militants were also killed in the fighting.

Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan claimed responsibility for the attack.

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2008)