PESHAWAR, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - A close aide to a radical Muslim cleric and eight other militants were killed Wednesday in a clash with Pakistani security forces in northwestern Swat valley, the military said.

'Nine militants including Ali Bakht, a top-ranking militant, were killed and many injured during a search and cordon operation conducted by security forces early this morning' in Kabal district, a military statement said.

Two security force personnel were wounded in the operation, it said.

Bakht was a close aide to pro-Taliban cleric Maulana Fazlullah.

Fazlullah's spokesman, Muslim Khan, confirmed the death of Bakht, who had negotiated a peace deal with the government in May.

The agreement, which had had caused concerns among Pakistan's western allies, was in jeopardy since fierce fighting erupted in the region last week.

Pakistan's military said Monday that a total of 136 people, including 94 Taliban militants, 14 troops and 28 civilians, had been killed in one week of fighting in Swat Valley.

Mountainous Swat was a thriving tourist resort until last year, when radical Fazlullah launched a violent campaign to enforce harsh Islamic Sharia law in the region.

Under the May peace deal, the government agreed to gradually pull out troops and introduce an Islamic justice system. In exchange, the rebels said they would halt attacks and surrender arms.

Pakistan is under mounting international pressure to crack down on Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants who are increasing their hold over parts of northwestern Pakistan and the adjoining, semi-autonomous tribal belt.

Local military commander Brigadier Zia Anjum Bodla told reporters in Swat on Monday that the army was forced to act because militants were engaging in attacks in the area, violating the peace deal.

Elsewhere in northern Pakistan on Wednesday, another militant was killed and three security officials were wounded when a group of Pakistani Taliban attacked a police station outside the city of Peshawar.

Security forces used gunship helicopters to neutralise the militants, a security official said.