Islamabad, March 21: Security forces Friday shut down three illegal FM radio stations for airing speeches of a pro-Taliban cleric in Pakistan's restive north-western valley of Swat, the military said.

"During this operation, a large quantity of illegal small arms, ammunition, audio cassettes and provocative literature was also recovered and confiscated," an army statement said.

Seven suspects were arrested for running the stations.

The action came three days after the pirate radio stations began airing the fiery speeches of Maulana Fazlullah, who has attempted to impose Taliban-style Islamic rule in the region, only a four-hour drive from the capital Islamabad.

The government of President Pervez Musharraf, a key US ally, sent government forces to the area in October 2007 to clear out Fazlullah's followers.

Since then the battle between government forces and the militants has killed around 350 people.