The District Coordination Officer (DCO) of Swat in northwestern Pakistan Monday imposed curfew for seven hours in the entire Swat district.

The state-run APP news agency quoted DCO Khushal Khan as saying that curfew would remain imposed from 7:00 pm Monday (1300GMT Monday) to 6:00 am Tuesday (0000GMT Tuesday) in Swat.

He appealed to the people to cooperate with the administration and avoid traveling during the night time. He said that cars with less than three passengers would not be allowed to ply on the roads in the city.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani military said in a statement that militants brutally beheaded two soldiers in their captivity Sunday in Khawazakhela, Swat "against all norms of religious teaching and human ethics".

"In gross violation of peace accord armed militants are marching on the roads of Mangora city and other areas, threatening the lives of the innocent people of Swat and civil administration, " it said. "Security forces are still exercising restraint to honor the peace agreement."

Early Monday, it said, militants attacked a security forces convoy in Barrikot. Exchange of fire took place in which an officer was killed and two soldiers were injured.

Another soldier was killed when militants raided a security forces check post at Shangla top, according to the statement.

(Xinhua News Agency May 5, 2009)