Officials said on Friday that seven Pakistani soldiers were killed and 16 wounded when militants attacked their convoy.

Meanwhile, five people accused of spying for the United States and Pakistan, were found beheaded, CNN reported authorities as saying on Friday.

The New York Times also reported that the Pakistani military's Web site carried a statement saying the convoy attack occurred Thursday night in Pakistan's North Waziristan area.

It wasn't clear with what group the militants were affiliated. The Pakistani army has been battling both al-Qaida and Taliban forces in the northern region. It was further reported by CNN that the militants who attacked the 20-vehicle convoy were armed with small arms and rocket launchers. Unnamed officials said the military called in helicopter gun-ships to scatter the attackers. The U. S. network said that the decapitations also occurred in the north. The victims also had been shot.

Residents who came upon them also found a handwritten note accusing them of spying, a government official said. (With Inputs from Agencies)