Islamabad  = Rebels in north-western Pakistan attacked a parking bay used by US and NATO contractors in Afghanistan, killing a guard and torching dozens of trucks, police said Sunday.

The attack took place in the early hours at Al-Faisal terminal on the outskirts of Peshawar city, where trucks carrying food and military supplies for Western troops are parked at night.

"A group of insurgents raided the terminal at around 3 am (2200 GMT) and fired rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles at the trucks and container, setting more than
60 of them on fire," police officer Fazal Mohammad Khan said.

Some of the trucks were carrying armoured vehicles for the NATO forces.

One guard at the terminal's gate was also killed by the militants, Khan added.

Pakistani authorities have asked hauling contractors to make the journey through Khyber Pass, located 18 kilometres from Peshawar, only during daytime and under security cover.

The 35-kilometre mountain track passing through the lawless tribal region serves as a major supply route to land-locked Afghanistan.

Militants holed up in the volatile north-west have repeatedly threatened to cut the supply line, a move that would greatly hamper the operations of international forces against Taliban in Afghanistan.

Sunday's attack on the Al-Faisal terminal was the second this week. On Monday the rebels killed two drivers and destroyed at least a dozen lorries loaded with NATO supplies in a pre-dawn attack. (dpa)