Mendhar (J-K), Jan 5: The fierce gunbattle between security personnel and militants continued for the fifth consecutive day today in Bhati Dhar area in Mendhar sector of Poonch district.

Four militants, one policeman and two soldiers have so far died in the encounter, which began on Thursday.

Jammu, Jan 5 : National Conference party chief Omar Abdullah will take oath as the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir along with five or six ministers here today.

Omar Abdullah will be administered the oath of office and secrecy by the State Governor N N Vohra at Zorawar Auditorium in Jammu University.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Congress President Sonia Gandhi are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Srinagar, Jan. 4 : People''''s Democratic Party (PDP) has severed its ties with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre following Congress party's decision to get into an alliance with the National Conference (NC) to form a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mehbooba Mufti is the sole representation from PDP in Lok Sabha.

In a letter written to the UPA chairperson, PDP's President Mehbooba Mufti has conveyed her party's decision. She said "PDP has formally dissociated itself from the UPA alliance at the Centre."

Poonch, Jan 3 : A Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed in an encounter between militants and security forces in Bhati Dhar forest area of Mendhar in Jammu and Kashmir''s Poonch District on Saturday.

According to official sources, SPO Naresh Kumar was killed in an encounter, which was resumed around midnight.

An encounter has been going on for the last two days in the area.

JCO Rakesh Kumar and Naik P K Singh, and four militants were killed in a gunbattle, which started on Thursday evening.

Brussels, Jan. 3 : A two-day conference held here last month on the cultural heritage of Kashmiris, has declared that there is a need to forge "a peaceful pathway through identifying and implementing a series of steps that will lead to a prosperous and cohesive future for all of the people of Kashmir, wherever they may reside."

In its eight-point declaration, the conference recognising that, irrespective of their location, all people of the Former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir share a unique and ancient heritage.

Srinagar, Kashmir - At least six suspected Muslim militants and three security personnel were killed in separate gunbattles in India-administered Kashmir, officials said Saturday.

Two army soldiers, one policeman and four rebels died in fighting in a forested area of Poonch region, 270 kilometres west of the state's winter capital Jammu, defence spokesman Colonel SM Acharya said.