A group of militants entered the high security area near the US consulate in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Saturday, triggering a gun battle with security forces.

There was no official word on the incident, though TV news channels reported that the militants were holed up in the area near the US consulate, which is located within the Peshawar cantonment, and exchanging heavy fire with security forces. The TV channels also reported that some militants had stormed a government building.