Pakistan army troops keeps guard at the main entry gate of cantonment area in Kohat about 130 Kilometers (80 miles) west of Islamabad, Pakistan, 17 Dec 2007

Authorities say a suicide bomber has killed nine Pakistani army recruits in the country's restive northwest.

The attack happened Monday in a military area of the town of Kohat, in North West Frontier Province.

Military officials say army recruits were walking back from a football (soccer) game when the bomber approached and blew himself up. Four soldiers were wounded.

Separately, three Pakistani paramilitary troops were wounded Sunday when a roadside bomb exploded in the tribal region of North Waziristan.

Army officials also say they arrested at least seven suspected militants in the northwestern Swat Valley. Officials say one of those detained is Abdul Shakoor, who allegedly urged the beheading of security forces in the region.

Pakistani troops have been battling militants in Swat since July, when a radical cleric, Maulana Fazlullah, called for a holy war against the government.

Soldiers recently ejected militants from territory they had seized in the tourist area.

Some information for this report was provided by  AP and Reuters.