Joint teams of commandos from the Army, Navy and Air Force went into action Sunday and took control of important facilities like the Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Rawalpindi and several key sensitive security buildings in Islamabad.

Elite police units were deployed at prisons, the parliament building, diplomatic enclave, five-star hotels and other key places in the capital frequented by VVIPs. "It is the highest level of security in the country," Islamabad Police chief Sikandar Hayat said.

Security was ratcheted up after credible reports that Taliban militants were planning to storm some key building and take people hostage. An intelligence official said militants emboldened by last week's attack on Dera Ismail Khan jail ' during which 252 prisoners escaped ' wanted to created an even bigger impact with a high-profile attack.

"The secret communication revealed that, apart from other potential targets, the militants want to storm some airport, occupy passenger lounges and even destroy aircraft," the official said.

Army and police personnel have been combing the thickly forested Margalla Hills overlooking Islamabad since Sunday, city police chief Hayat said. "We have a very specific threat this time and our forces are searching the hills," he said. He confirmed that there were reports the militants could attack some "sensitive" buildings in Islamabad.

Hayat did not specify the targets but the President's House, Prime Minister's House and Secretariat, parliament, diplomatic enclave, NGOs' offices, five-star hotels and banks could be on the hit list of the rebels, sources said.

Security has also been increased in other cities. The threat emerged after a global warning of possible al-Qaeda attacks, which forced the US and Western nations to temporarily close their missions in some countries.