Eight killed in Kashmir fighting

A fierce gunbattle has killed four Indian government forces and four suspected militants in disputed Kashmir, officials said Wednesday.

The fighting erupted after government forces cordoned off a remote forested village in the mountains of northwestern Kupwara region on Tuesday following a tip that insurgents were hiding there, Kashmir police chief S.P. Vaid said.

Vaid said at least three insur ents were killed  overnight and the other militant was killed Wednesday. He said the fighting in the difficult terrain was continuing and at least one more rebel was suspected of being in the area.The government fatalities occurred on Wednesday.

No rebel group immediately issued any statement about the fighting.The dead government forces consisted of two counterinsurgency police and two army soldiers. At least three police officials and a soldier were also wounded.

Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim it in its entirety.Anti-India sentiment runs deep in Kashmir, wh ich in recent years has seen renewed rebel attacks and repeated public protests against Indian rule.

Rebels have been fighting Indian rule since 1989, demanding Kashmir be made part of Pakistan or become an independent country.India accuses Pakistan of arming and training the rebels, a charge Pakistan denies.

Most Kashmiris support the rebels' cause against Indian rule while also participating in civilia n street protests against Indian control.Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown.

-AP, Srinagar