5 people die in US drone strike in NW Pakistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, June 3, IRNA -- An American unmanned aircraft fired missiles into Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal area on Sunday and killed at least five people, tribesmen said.
It was the second strike in the region in two days. Two people were killed in a similar strike on Saturday.
The unmanned American aircraft fired four missiles on a house in Bermal area of South Waziristan region, residents said.
Three people were also injured in the strike. The house was also destroyed in the attack, witnesses said. State TV reported that a vehicle was also hit in the strike.
Identity of the slain men could not be ascertained immediately. Some TV channels claimed those killed were suspected militants. Quoting sources TV channels reported that the slain men belonged to the Taliban group led by Mulla Nazir Wazir. Two commanders of the group were killed in Saturday's attack.
The US has stepped up drone strikes in recent days in Pakistan's tribal area, ignoring protest by Pakistan.
The Saturday strike was the 7th in two weeks in Waziristan tribal region. Nearly 135 people have been killed in such strikes in 2012.
Pakistan says US drone strikes on its soil are a serious violation of its sovereignty and a contravention of the international law, but the United States insists claims that it is an effective way to fight against the militants.
**2050
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 80166102
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