Top Pakistani Taliban militant blows himself up

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - One of Pakistan's top Taliban militants, wanted for the kidnapping of two Chinese engineers in 2004, blew himself up during a clash with security forces, the interior ministry said Tuesday.

Abdullah Mehsud killed himself with a hand grenade after troops raided a hideout in the Zhob district of southwestern Baluchistan province on Monday night, Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier Javed Cheema told AFP.

"Abdullah Mehsud blew himself up with a grenade and died when security forces raided his hideout. Three of his accomplices were arrested," Cheema said.